Syrian And Lebanese Patrícios In São Paulo: From The Levant To Brazil

This project is a translation into English of a book by Oswaldo Truzzi on Syrians and Lebanese in São Paulo from the end of the 19th century to the 1950s. Truzzi begins by describing migrants' reasons for emigrating to Brazil. He examines the economic trajectory of many of the immigrants, from peddlers to retailers, wholesale traders, and industrialists, and discusses their efforts to reinvent the unfavorable identity of "merchant" by relating it to a strong work ethic and to a mission of spreading the novelties of progress (the merchandises they commercialized) to the farthest corners of Brazil. Truzzi considers the process of differentiation within the group, both economically and in terms of religious and ethnic affinities (particularly the perception of differences between Syrians and Lebanese), and discusses the professional aspirations of the second generation. He also undertakes a comparative discussion of Syrians and Lebanese in Brazil and the United States, noting the importance of pioneering commercial activities in haberdashery, clothing, and textile sectors, a niche dominated by Jews in the United States that Syrians and Lebanese pioneered in Brazil. The book closes with a discussion of a more recent wave of Lebanese Muslims migrants to São Paulo beginning in the 1960s. Syrian and Lebanese immigrants to Brazil chose to settle in urban areas, a marked contrast to many other migrant groups. In São Paulo, these newcomers embraced new lives as merchants, shopkeepers, and industrialists, making them a dominant force in the city's business sector. Oswaldo Truzzi's original work on these so-called patrícios changed the face of Brazilian studies. Now available in an English translation, Truzzi's pioneering book identifies the complex social paths blazed by Syrian and Lebanese immigrants and their descendants from the 1890s to the 1960s. He considers their relationships to other groups within São Paulo's kaleidoscopic mix of cultures. He also reveals the differences—real and perceived—between Syrians and Lebanese in terms of religious and ethnic affinities and in the economic sphere. Finally, he compares the two groups with their counterparts in the United States and looks at the wave of Lebanese Muslims to São Paulo that began in the 1960s. | Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Preface to the Brazilian Edition, by Boris Fausto Preface: The Syrian-Lebanese Diaspora in a Global Perspective, by José C. Moya Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Redeeming Family 2. From Peddlers to Entrepreneurs 3. Reinventing Identities 4. Internal Differentiation 5. The Liberal Professions: Doctors, Lawyers, and Engineers 6. Patrícios in Politics 7. Brazil and the United States: A Comparative View Conclusion: Toward a History of Urban Immigration in São Paulo Afterword: Sociability and Values of Lebanese Muslim Families in São Paulo Appendix: Autores Materiais (Material Authors) of Taufik Duoun's A Emigração Sírio-Libanesa às Terra da Promissao (Syrian-Lebanese Immigration to Promised Land, 1944) Notes References Index |"This book makes a seminal contribution by putting Arabs on the map of Brazilian studies. Truzzi's attention to historical and sociological detail is impeccable in the mercantile trajectories of Syrian and Lebanese immigrants. The prose flows, the small vignettes are memorable, and the occasional statistic priceless."—John Tofik Karam, author of Another Arabesque: Syrian-Lebanese Ethnicity in Neoliberal Brazil "Syrian and Lebanese Patrícios in São Paulo tackles classic themes in immigration studies. With a focus on different forms of labor integration including peddling, shop ownership, and industrial entrepreneurship, Oswaldo Truzzi provides new perspectives for analyzing ethnicity in Latin America."—Jeffrey Lesser, author of Immigration, Ethnicity, and National Identity in Brazil, 1808 to the Present | Oswaldo Truzzi is a senior professor of graduate studies in sociology at the Federal University of São Carlos. Ramon J. Stern is a translator and administrative manager of the Brazil Initiative and Brazilian Studies Association at Brown University. This Project Is A Translation Into English Of A Book By Oswaldo Truzzi On Syrians And Lebanese In São Paulo From The End Of The 19th Century To The 1950s. Truzzi Begins By Describing Migrants' Reasons For Emigrating To Brazil. He Examines The Economic Trajectory Of Many Of The Immigrants, From Peddlers To Retailers, Wholesale Traders, And Industrialists, And Discusses Their Efforts To Reinvent The Unfavorable Identity Of Merchant By Relating It To A Strong Work Ethic And To A Mission Of Spreading The Novelties Of Progress (the Merchandises They Commercialized) To The Farthest Corners Of Brazil. Truzzi Considers The Process Of Differentiation Within The Group, Both Economically And In Terms Of Religious And Ethnic Affinities (particularly The Perception Of Differences Between Syrians And Lebanese), And Discusses The Professional Aspirations Of The Second Generation. He Also Undertakes A Comparative Discussion Of Syrians And Lebanese In Brazil And The United States, Noting The Importance Of Pioneering Commercial Activities In Haberdashery, Clothing, And Textile Sectors, A Niche Dominated By Jews In The United States That Syrians And Lebanese Pioneered In Brazil. The Book Closes With A Discussion Of A More Recent Wave Of Lebanese Muslims Migrants To São Paulo Beginning In The 1960s-- Preface To The Brazilian Edition / Boris Fausto -- Preface : The Syrian-lebanese Diaspora In A Global Perspective / José C. Moya -- Redeeming Family -- From Peddlers To Entrepreneurs -- Reinventing Identities -- Internal Differentiation -- The Liberal Professions : Doctors, Lawyers, And Engineers -- Patrícios In Politics -- Brazil And The United States : A Comparative View -- Conclusion : Toward A History Of Urban Immigration In São Paulo -- Afterword : Sociability And Values Of Lebanese Muslim Families In São Paulo. Oswaldo Truzzi ; Translated By Ramon J. Stern. Originally Published By Editora Hucitec, São Paulo, As Patrícios : Sírios E Libaneses Em São Paulo Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In English; Translated From The Portuguese. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 Preface to the Brazilian Edition, by Boris Fausto......Page 10 Preface: The Syrian-Lebanese Diaspora in a Global Perspective, by José C. Moya......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 22 Introduction......Page 24 1. Redeeming Family......Page 28 2. From Peddlers to Entrepreneurs ......Page 43 3. Reinventing Identities......Page 64 4. Internal Differentiation......Page 74 5. The Liberal Professions: Doctors, Lawyers, and Engineers ......Page 94 6. Patrícios in Politics......Page 113 7. Brazil and the United States: A Comparative View......Page 133 Conclusion: Toward a History of Urban Immigration in São Paulo......Page 148 Afterword: Sociability and Values of Lebanese Muslim Families in São Paulo......Page 156 Appendix: Autores Materiais (Material Authors) of Taufik Duoun’s A Emigração Sírio-Libanesa às Terra da Promissao (Syrian-Lebanese Immigration to Promised Land, 1944) ......Page 168 Notes......Page 170 References......Page 184 Index......Page 194 Syrian and Lebanese immigrants to Brazil chose to settle in urban areas, a marked contrast to many other migrant groups. In So Paulo, these newcomers embraced new lives as merchants, shopkeepers, and industrialists that made them a dominant force in the city's business sector. Oswaldo Truzzi's original work on these so-called patrcios changed the face of Brazilian studies. Now available in an English translation, Truzzi's pioneering book identifies the complex social paths blazed by Syrian and Lebanese immigrants and their descendants from the 1890s to the 1960s. He considers their relationships to other groups within So Paulo's kaleidoscopic mix of cultures. He also reveals the differences--real and perceived--between Syrians and Lebanese in terms of religious and ethnic affinities and in the economic sphere. Finally, he compares the two groups with their counterparts in the United States and looks at the wave of Lebanese Muslims to So Paulo that began in the 1960s. Preface to the Brazilian edition / Boris Fausto -- Preface : the Syrian-Lebanese diaspora in a global perspective / Jose C. Moya -- Redeeming family -- From peddlers to entrepreneurs -- Reinventing identities -- Internal differentiation -- The liberal professions : doctors, lawyers, and engineers -- Patricios in politics -- Brazil and the United States : a comparative view -- Conclusion : toward a history of urban immigration in Sao Paulo -- Afterword : sociability and values of Lebanese Muslim families in Sao Paulo