O percurso do distributivismo no Brasil: do seu apogeu ao declínio (1930-1940)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the trajectory of distributism in Brazil between 1930 and 1940, focusing on its reception, peak, and decline within the political and intellectual context of the period. Inspired by the principles of the Catholic Church’s Social Doctrine, distributism—developed by thinkers such as G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc—was disseminated and adapted in Brazil by intellectuals like Alceu Amoroso Lima and Gustavo Corção. The research explores how these figures sought to establish an alternative to both liberal-capitalist and socialist models, advocating for the decentralization of property and the valorization of small family ownership. The study also examines the role of the Catholic Electoral League and the 1934 Constitution as significant moments in the institutionalization of distributist ideals. It concludes that, despite its early promise, distributism faced strong opposition and waned with the rise of the Estado Novo and the consolidation of a centralizing political regime. The methodology is based on bibliographic and documentary analysis, focusing on the writings of the aforementioned thinkers.