Between liberty and order: O Estado de São Paulo and the dictatorship (1969-1973)

Abstract

The article analyses the political opinions published by the newspaper O Estado de São Paulo during the phase between the AI5 and Geisel’s distension, which was the harsher period of the Brazilian dictatorship. The aim is to understand the periodical’s strategies towards the dictatorship, which varied between adhesion and accommodation according to the analysis presented here. During the period on focus, Estadão worked to bring the dictatorship closer to liberal positions and, for that purpose, the newspaper used both verbal and visual resources. Following this path the newspaper assumed risks that, in the end, provoked the state censorship. The article’s last section approaches Estadão’s strategies during the debates concerning Médici’s succession, when the newspaper made pressure on behalf of a process of normalization or institutionalization, which meant for Estadão strengthening the liberal institutions without breaking with the militaries.