O militar e o político na transição da Ditadura Militar à Nova República: ALE-RO, exército e imprensa na fronteira amazônica (1983-1986)

Abstract

This doctoral thesis deals with the coverage of an Amazonian newspaper, Alto Madeira, on the transition from the Military Dictatorship to the New Republic, from 1983 to 1986. The final two years of the military dictatorship and the initial two years of the New Republic will be discussed. The thesis is geographically focused on the state of Rondônia, i.e., the analysis of the research is the political transition on the margins of the major centers. The aim is to broaden the debate on the dimensions and identify the characteristics of this political distancing in regional daily life, which points to a connection between events, i.e. decisions taken at federal level influence and can be affected by regional political daily life. The choice of this federal unit is justified by the peculiarity of its spatiality: since the 1940s, the administration of the Federal Territory of Guaporé/State of Rondônia has had a strong presence of Brazilian Army officers. For this reason, the first chapters will discuss the role of the verde-oliva in the region, pointing out that the world of the barracks has shaped the culture and politics of this place. Thus, in 1983 - when the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rondônia (ALE-RO) was founded - a new moment was inaugurated, because not only were the institutions and powers of the new state (created on December 22, 1981) being structured, but society would also begin to participate and claim a place in the arenas of power. Before the parliament was set up, the governor administered with little room for challenge from local politicians, but the picture changed when the state legislature was set up. In the New Republic, which began in 1985 with the inauguration of President José Sarney and Governor Ângelo Angelin (politicians affiliated to the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party - PMDB), there were more changes and an expansion of citizenship, but the period was marked by ruptures and continuities. And, of course, this historical context relied heavily on the role of the Alto Madeira newspaper, which participated in various ways, sometimes giving its opinion and sometimes limiting itself to reporting on events, which is common behavior for a small newspaper that depends on public funds for its operation. Therefore, this thesis analyzes a period of Brazilian history, from the present time.