Infinitum: Revista Multidisciplinar

Family roots of brazilian billionaires (2021): a genealogical investigation

2025-07-16T22:09:47-03:00

In Brazil, the covid-19 pandemic meant social and economic tragedy for many, but it turned into a positive moment for very few as they expanded their wealth. Forbes magazine, August 2021, revealed 315 Brazilians among the planet's billionaires, of which 42 are newcomers. This article presents an X-ray of the ten main Brazilian billionaires through the prosopographic method, highlighting genealogical data and aspects of the trajectory to indicate long-term fortunes, with historical and family structures designated as genealogical-economic family capital. It is indicated that the aforementioned billionaires are entangled by historical fortunes, of generational longevity, not being the result of luck or personal efforts, as preached by meritocracy. The analyzed data can be found on different websites, in the newspaper archive of the national library and in genealogical banks.

Philanthropic billionaires: a study on family philanthropy

2025-08-08T14:34:22-03:00

Although Brazilian institutions have undergone significant changes over the past centuries, research
that considers the family as a variable shows that dominant groups remain in positions of power, either operating within or influencing institutional politics. This study sheds light on one of the contemporary forms of family network articulation that influences and permeates spaces of power: family philanthropy, which has been gaining increasing prominence in the country, both in the formulation of public policies and in shaping their meanings and discourses. By linking the categories of family, billionaires, and philanthropy, this work highlights a subject that
has been relatively underexplored in social sciences. The analytical focus is on the philanthropy carried out by the Abílio Diniz family, based on an analysis of public documents and interviews.

Multi-family order as a determinist vector for the culture of privilege and power relations in Brazil

2025-08-08T14:48:27-03:00

By reproducing to exhaustion and with greater intensity the historical practice inherited from the Iberian tradition, the long process of formation of Brazilian society incorporated into its constitutive elements the family order as a distinctive factor in the country's social and political relations, which was
established as a standard and informal rule, shaped by the interests of the Portuguese Crown and its
many beneficiaries. Deeply rooted in Iberian society, particularly in its Lusitanian portion, the culture
of privilege was conceived as a kind of class identity, restricted to the nobility and its derivatives (fidalgos of all kinds), in such a way that those who were favored segregated those who were not accepted, who, by the way, represented the vast majority of the Portuguese population. The “package of privileges” dedicated to the kingdom’s chosen ones was extended to the family, assuming application trajectories in all directions (ascending, descending, lateral) and developments (reaching the most diverse affinity ties, even aggregates), as well as constituting a transferable patrimony to heirs and godchildren, consecrating the family order as the structural cell of life in society, not by a determination of values cultivated in the ethical-formative dimension, but purely with the purpose of ensuring the respective share of public privileges and benefits, for enjoyment in the private sphere and in a hereditary manner. Permanently living in the Portuguese territory overseas and claiming a dubious proximity to the King, the colonizer's agents, far from the eyes of royalty and eager to cover themselves with the flattery typical of the universe that gravitated around the monarchy, did not restrain themselves from importing and implanting in these lands the culture of privilege, reserved for distinct groups and families that settled or developed in that scenario, far from mechanisms of effective control and any reference to advanced standards of civility. Predominant in the Colony, active in the Empire and suffocating in the Republic, the culture of privilege as an end in itself assumed an air of unanimity and object of desire, taking root in such a way and scope that it would become consecrated as a true national institution, a mirror of distortions, deviations and diverse degenerations. Enjoying the approval of the complicit solidarity of peers and class partners, it would resist modernity and flexible institutionality, and would be maintained in the country as a reserve of privileges destined for a few and members of families that would perpetuate themselves in the most diverse segments of social life — in politics, in the Judiciary, in State careers, in the Armed Forces, in diplomatic representations, in the academic environment, in short, expanding in a diffuse manner, but without compromising the restriction of the oligarchic-familial criterion.

Genealogical study of two abolitionists from Parana: Priest Ribeiro and Rocha Pombo

2025-08-08T14:56:01-03:00

This article aims to better understand the abolitionist process in Curitiba from the perspective of two of its leaders, Priest Antônio Joaquim Ribeiro and journalist and writer José Francisco da Rocha Pombo, and thus to reflect on this crucial moment in our history. To this end, we will start from two news articles on the subject published in the newspaper Gazeta Paranaense in April 1888. The first is a circular addressed to all parish priests in the region, sent by the Forensic Vicar General, Priest Ribeiro, asking them to actively engage in the end of slavery in their parishes; the second is about the founding of the Parana Abolitionist Confederation in Curitiba, led by the military and which was composed of numerous civil entities and in which the speaker Rocha Pombo stood out; in short, there were two actions that mobilized society, through the Catholic Church and the military associated with clubs in general; and the specific look at Priest Ribeiro and Rocha Pombo is in the sense of understanding who was this religious, intellectual and political elite that was at the forefront of this process of social mobilization. To this end, we used the genealogical method of social research, worked on by sociologists such as Daniel Bertaux and Ricardo Costa de Oliveira, to understand who was this abolitionist elite, and in which their genealogies point to a past of inheritance of land ownership, use of slave labor and political domination. Therefore, for this case analyzed, the abolitionist struggle ended up being restricted to a humanistic religious sense and, mainly, in favor of the renewal of productive forces, with no concern for what would become of the black population after abolition, and in which it was implicit
that they should only adapt to the new times and work models.

Father Brandt and family disputes in the political and cultural arena of Maranhão: the trajectory of a priest, politician, and writer

2025-08-08T15:15:19-03:00

This paper aims to analyze the political and intellectual trajectory of Father Clodomir Brandt
e Silva, known for his diverse activities in the municipality of Arari, marked by the founding of schools, theater, cinema, newspapers, radio, a publishing house, a library, and religious associations, in addition to being a significant figure in the city's political history. Methodologically, the text is based on data and information available in the works of "interpreters" of Arari's history, collected through documentary and bibliographical research, including books written by the priest himself. The study focuses on understanding how the various historical, social, political, and cultural factors influenced his evangelizing work and transformed the practices and discourses produced by this figure, who began to
intervene incisively and decisively in the direction that the dominant families defined for the city. Using
writing as the main instrument of symbolic struggle for the imposition of concepts that guide actions
and demarcate positions and stances in Arariense politics and culture, Father Brandt's itinerary exemplifies the heteronomization and hybridization of the priestly office in the state of Maranhão.

Physiologism and nepotism: the genealogy of five centrist leaders

2025-08-08T15:21:55-03:00

Physiologism is a term that characterizes politicians who are always in the support base of presidents, regardless of the ideological profile of the heads of the federal executive. Recently, the term “physiologism” has fallen into disuse, and it is more common to hear the term “centrão” used to refer
to politicians who support all presidents. In turn, nepotism expresses the practice of distributing
positions to relatives and favoring them in their political pretensions. In turn, nepotism expresses the
practice of distributing positions to relatives and favoring them in their political ambitions. According
to Oliveira (2012), nepotism is a relationship between power structures and kinship. In this research, we
associate physiologism and nepotism, two typical social institutions of Brazilian politics, with an investigation into the presence of these two elements in the political practices of five notable leaders of
the "centrão": José Sarney, Renan Calheiros, Jader Barbalho, Arthur Lira, and Ricardo Barros. The study
focused on the political trajectories and genealogies of these leaders. The method adopted was genealogical (OLIVEIRA, 2012). The objectives were to describe the nepotism networks built by these
politicians and understand how the transmission of political-family capital occurred throughout their
histories, as well as to determine whether this type of capital was converted into economic capital. Pierre
Bourdieu's concept of capital was a central element in the analysis and interpretation of the genealogies
studied, along with relevant contributions from Nepotism Theory. Finally, we consider that the five
politicians inherited political-family capital from their parents and passed it on to their wives, siblings,
and children. Furthermore, they studied at elite universities and converted political-family capital into
economic capital, notably in media outlets and rural properties. The leaders also control party machines
in their states, in some cases for decades. But their main power base is their permanence within the
State, where, aligned with the federal executive branch, they can instrumentalize the institutional
powers of the state apparatus for political-family favors.

Family and political arrangements: a slice of the right fraction at the dome of tourism

2025-08-08T15:31:18-03:00

This paper examines the power of familism during a period of heightened political polarization that contributed to the rise of the far right. Through genealogical and prosopographical methods, the study investigates the family ethos and sociopolitical relations of key figures in the Ministry of Tourism to better understand these agents' social perspectives. Recent studies indicate that family influence across various spheres of power poses a threat to democracy and deepens social inequalities; on the other hand, tourism is ideologically seen as a means to stimulate the economy and mitigate these disparities. The structure of familism aids in understanding both the political framework relevant to the specified context and the naturalization of social issues. The analysis underscores the dominance of a hereditary political-family profile that is conservative and reactive, advocating for the preservation of the status quo that a certain social inertia safeguards for them.

Power and tradition:lineages of authority in public

2025-08-08T15:41:37-03:00

The Delegado Geral (chief of police) is the highest position within the Civil Police and is responsible for organizing the entire institution and its staff. However, as it is a commissioned role, where the head of the state executive power decides to whom the activity is assigned, there are no technical criteria to limit such a choice. That facilitates the influence of family elites in the selection process, allowing them to retain power and wealth through occupying high positions in public administration. Since the 1990s, the relevance of genealogies and the insertion of relatives in public positions has received more national studies to identify how family groups transfer privileges and benefits to the next generations, adapting the patrimonial model, which is inadmissible in the Democratic State of Law, where equality of conditions and impersonality must prevail. Aiming to verify whether the ex-chief of police active between 2013-2014 was part of any dominant family, we used prosopography as a research method. To investigate the genealogy and biography of the subject were investigated through documentary, historical, and archival research in the media, the World Web, the Public Library of Paraná, and genealogical research websites. The object of research is part of a family of Lebanese immigrants prominent in communication and literature, who, through marriage ties, joined the traditional family of Lapa/PR, the Lacerda – Braga. The extended stay in strategic positions within the state public security structure may be due to integration into traditional lineages, enabling the inheritance of high positions in the present, as elites aim to safeguard power and wealth among their peers.

The cartography of power in Paraná:she wasn't just another maria with the legacy of the family hierarchy

2025-08-08T15:54:22-03:00

We focus on the analysis of power structures in the state of Paraná, with special attention to the influence of familism on the political trajectory of Aparecida Borghetti. We establish the investigation of the consolidation of her political rise through the connections between kinship relations and nepotistic practices articulated with economic and political capital. The theoretical framework mobilized establishes a dialogue between sociological and historical perspectives. Based on Marxist contributions, the research problematizes power relations, highlighting the mechanisms of reproduction and maintenance of dominant classes within the regional political dynamic, thereby contributing to contemporary debates on the challenges of social equity. For the operationalization of the research, we prioritized genealogical and prosopographical methods, combined with biographical investigation, document analysis, social network mapping, and the identification of power
articulations. The study was structured in three stages: biographical description based on genealogical analysis; presentation of social relations through prosopographical investigation; and the indication of intersections between economy, familism, and political power in the political consolidation of the parliamentarian. We consider that the female representativeness of Maria Aparecida Borghetti in politics, far from resembling a
process of struggle for the expansion of rights or breaking down barriers to gender democratization in political access and participation, perpetuates traditional hierarchical structures, mainly related to familist practices, highlighting the dynamics of power in the reproduction of privileges and exclusions.

The meanders of Ratinho: plots and fictions in the political-business trajectory of Carlos Massa

2025-08-08T16:04:26-03:00

This research examines Carlos Massa, better known as Ratinho, from a sociological perspective. Moving away from the idea of a self-made man, one can see an individual shaped by his social environment. Few individuals have undergone such significant transformations as Carlos Massa throughout his life. Beyond his remarkable achievements, Ratinho also ventured into politics, with his greatest political success being realized through his son, Ratinho Júnior. Analyzing Ratinho's trajectory, at least through sociological lenses, means observing the construction of an empire—one that is quite unique compared to other powerful families in Paraná. Notably, unlike many political and business figures in the state, Ratinho built his career without nepotism. Instead, a man without a prestigious family name relied on his skills in crucial moments, identifying opportunities that significantly altered his life. Identifying these windows of opportunity is precisely the aim of this article. The study begins with Carlos Massa’s family origins and concludes with his greatest achievement: the foundation of Rede Massa.

Politics as a family business: family arrangements and nepotism in the history of the Magalhães and Richa families

2025-08-08T16:11:00-03:00

The research sought, based on scripts located in the trajectories of the political families of Antônio Carlos Magalhães and José Richa, to highlight the arrangements between political power and family structures. The Magalhães families in Bahia and Richa in Paraná, gathered and accumulated mainly economic and political-family capital to maintain power in and between political families. Thus, based on the genealogical method and the life stories of Bertaux (2020), we seek to understand the logic that moves and guides the political field, marked by the presence of political families. The descendants of these political families resort to inherited political-family capital, when faced with unfavorable political contexts or adhere to the rules of the institutional game. Thus, with the help of Oliveira (2007; 2012) on nepotism and its perpetuation in the various spheres of power, we can see how kinship relations are essential in the current political model and can elucidate many of the relationships that characterize them.

Editorial

2025-08-09T20:34:14-03:00