Intelectuais em ação: mobilização das elites no plano político de Campina Grande - PB (1950-1959).

Abstract

This paper analyzes the political practices taken by a group of literate people identified as an “intellectual elite” living in the city of Campina Grande - PB, during the years 1950-1959, responsible for the elaboration of a new political-economic project to be established in the city. By peering into the presence of the elite in local power circles, it is seen that cooperation eventually yields results in urban space, even if its proponents are not registered. The objectives are to investigate the performance of this elite in the decisions of municipal governments during the proposed period, from their practices and their ideals presented as a solution to the new problems of the city, at the time, problematizing their trajectories in public life as well as its proposals and consequences in the urban scenario during and after its executions. For this research we used articles from local newspapers, chronicles, memorialist accounts, often produced by members of this elite, and academic studies (articles, dissertations and theses) that discuss the period, the characters and the plans relevant to the work. For the analysis of the concept and the delimitation regarding elites, the main references were the contributions of Bourdieu and Heinz. And for the analysis on the dynamization of political practices in a society, the theoretical contributions of Political History referenced in Becker, Jeanneney and Sirinelli were used mainly, correlating them with the memory books authored by the elite group object of the present study. The analysis of the period reveals a network of interests that involve the local elite with the politicians in power, acting to propose to the public agencies their own projects for the city, to the detriment of projects and groups alternative to their ideology.