Sociedade, Estado e economia no Brasil oitocentista : as visões de Rodrigues de Brito, Tavares Bastos, Visconde de Mauá e Visconde do Uruguai (1807-1878)

Abstract

This paper discusses the political, legal and social obstacles to the economic development, in the 19th centuty in Brazil, starting from the evidence and the ideas of Rodrigues de Brito, Tavares Bastos, Visconde de Mauá and Visconde do Uruguai, importants protagonists in politician, economic and intellectual, in the colonial and imperial societies. We can say that economy, state and society are inseparable elements in the development process; and the existence of appropriate social institutions is fundamental to join the several factors that take part for the economic and social modernization, stimulating the initiative and the individuals' responsibility, moved by the search of material and social rewards. In the 19th century in Brazil, beginning in the Colony and moving forward to the Empire, the institutions were not created, reformed or adapted to the purposes of economic efficiency. They were decisive for that arrangement the internal political-social conditions, presents in the Justice, in the public administration and in the government. Thus, in the transition of the colonial systems for the monarchic, it changes the political regime and the social institutions and stays the obstacles, committing the senses of freedom, responsibility and the citizens' initiative and of the enterprising; decreasing the rhythm and creating obstacles in direction of the progress.