The long road to the publication of this book has not been without the support and teachings of others. There are always more or less Herculean obstacles along the way, but it’s precisely because of the interaction with teachers, university colleagues and friends that they are no longer insurmountable. One of them, the covid-19 pandemic, did indeed prevent some academic plans, but I was also lucky not to go through it alone. Here I express my thanks to those who, with patience and/or interest, have followed the challenge over the five years that the research has taken and the journey to the publication of this book.
In the inconstancies that surround academic work, euphoria and scepticism alternate, and thanks to the guidance of important intellectual references, a synthesis is found. At unicamp, I was able to count on the then-coordinator of the Postgraduate Programme in Social Sciences, Angela Araújo, who generously took on my supervision and saw me through to the end. I thank her for the academic and sensitive relationship we built. I would therefore like to thank Vera da Silva Telles and Carolina Catini for their comments during my qualification. On my doctoral committee, I also had the satisfaction of working with Nadya Araújo Guimarães, Cibele Rizek and Taniele Rui. I still have the privilege of having Nadya as my post-doctoral supervisor at the University of São Paulo (usp) and the Brazilian Center of Analysis and Planning (Cebrap).
I had the gratification of an intellectual interaction and friendship with Pedro Mendes Loureiro during my stay as a visiting scholar at the Centre of Latin American Studies (clas) at University of Cambridge. His observations on my work were essential for finalising this book. In Cambridge, I am also grateful for the fundamental support of Chriselia de Vries, the warm reception of David Lehmann and the partnership with Lenon Maschette. In London, I had the chance to share ideas, projects and friendship with Aiko Amaral, Gareth Jones, Mara Nogueira and Deborah Fromm, whom I would like to thank.
I am grateful for the support of the Department of Sociology at usp and clas-Cambridge, institutions where I was able to revisit my doctoral thesis and turn it into this book. Also, to David Fasenfest, Alfredo Saad-Filho and Brill for making publication possible. This research would certainly not have taken the direction it did without the dialogue with Paulo Arantes at usp. I would also like to thank André Singer, Ruy Braga and Camila Rocha for their dialogue and valuable teachings at different stages of my intellectual career.
I would especially like to thank all my interlocutors, to whom I would like to give due recognition. People who gave not only their time, but above all their
Finally, I would like to thank my parents, Josane and Egidio, my life partner, Sue Iamamoto, and my daughter Júlia, whose laughter and tears were always present during the writing of this book. With love.