Intellectual politicization and scientific sociology in the cultural Cold War. ILARI, Florestan Fernandes and Brazilian sociology (1966-1972)

Abstract

This article analyses the tensions between scientific sociology and intellectual politicization in the history of Latin American sociology during the Cultural Cold War, focusing on the relationship established between three Brazilian sociologists Florestan Fernandes, Luiz de A. Costa Pinto and Gláucio Dillon Soares —and the Latin American Institute of International Relations (ILARI, 1966-1972). Created by the Congress for the Freedom of Culture, ILARI promoted various initiatives aimed at the dissemination of scientific sociology and worked actively to obtain the collaboration of important Latin American social scientists. The article analyzes the types of intellectual work carried out by progressive Brazilian sociologists in their relations with ILARI and compares the views of these different actors on “scientific sociology” and “compromiso”.