On the usefulness of theory in historiography: the mobility of concepts and compared history of 20th century political regimes

Abstract

Seeking to run counter the hostility trend against the theoretical discussion that would, in part, mark historiography in general and Portuguese historiography in particular, the present paper addresses how the epistemological paradigms existing in the contemporary era influenced different historiographic currents; the characteristics of hi s tor iogr aphy a s a s c i enc e and that of the technologies derived from historiography; the advantages of using theoretical concepts, either to interpret the development of political regionality in Portugal and Brazil in the 20th century, or to compare the two with other national historical experiences. As for political phenomena itself, it is argued that the operability of a typology of regimes – from absolute monarchies of divine right and corporate character to democracies – which will make it possible to address the empirical realities in the contemporary era in Portugal and Brazil (in Southern Europe and Latin America overall), and on a global scale. We also evoke theoretical categories that enhance, on the one hand, the analysis of the levels of deprivation of rights of effective political participation taking into account ethnic and/ or religious criteria; on the other hand, how the international relations systems in which Portugal and Brazil were or are integrated are being configured.