Franziska Meyer compares the Brazilian process of constitutionalism to other constitutions that came into effect in the first two decades of the nineteenth century. Meyer approaches this theme as part of the history of ideas. She is interested in the development of concepts like “sovereignty” and “liberalism.” She also explores the extent to which Brazilian constitutionalism was influenced by European examples and what was original about Brazilian constitutional thought.

Meyer starts with the late colonial uprisings in Minas Gerais and Salvador, Bahia, Brazil's call for independence, and finally the Confederation of the Equator in the Northeast. After this historical overview, she examines how European ideologies influenced Brazil. Meyer discusses constitutionalism, liberalism, conservatism, and nationalism from a European perspective before analyzing how these ideologies were interpreted in Brazil. She realizes the many difficulties involved in approaching these four ideologies as distinct: liberals tend to be constitutionalists; one could not be a...

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