The critique to the culturalist paradigm in the interpretation of the historical formation of Brazil

Brazilian historical formation has been studied from the direct or indirect influence of a Weberian framework. This theoretical matrix assumes the idea that the Brazilian political structure has not succeeded in overcoming the political patrimonialist culture of Portuguese origin. The reason for this would be a peculiar articulation between social authoritarianism and capitalist accumulation that would have blocked the construction of citizenship in the country. In addition to internal divergences, this culturalist aspect has been questioned by its limitations and incongruities. This paper intends to discuss theoretically critiques that the culturalist paradigm has received and that explain the analytical weaknesses of this model that seeks to situate and explain Brazil as a peripheral country marked by the amalgam of traditional / rational domination and associated the delay in relation to the capitalist center with the Iberian patrimonial heritage.