ABSTRACT
For well over a century, Brazilian elites – both military and civilian, diplomats and entrepreneurs – regarded the United States with envy, as well as contempt. They were attracted in one direction by the clear and direct demonstrations of American power and plenty, which they sought to emulate. Propelling them in the other was the fear that Brazil could be “dominated” and, by some sort of inherent fragility, become “dependent” on the Big Brother of the western hemisphere.
