Reply #6: I do.

[ocpagu]

Cardoso and Faletto's version of dependency theory was the object of my thesis at college.

The dependecy theory in Brazil can be divided in three different groups, with completely different approaches. One formulated by André Gunder Frank, Rui Mauro Marini, Theotonio dos Santos, O. Caputo and Pizarro; a second group leaded by Celso Furtado and Osvald Sunkel; and a third, created by Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Enzo Faletto. The three of them had completely different ideas about the understanding of capitalism in undeveloped countries. And the three of them were quite different from the other interpretations of the traditional approach of dependency theory as tributary of Marx thoughts.

Unlike the other groups, Cardoso and Faletto's version of dependency theory did not look for references in history, much less traditional culture. They simply ignored Marx and based their ideas entirely in a supposedly observation of problems of Brazilian economic structure of the 60s.

While the other intelectuals based their ideas in the understanding that foreign capital was an enemy, Cardoso OPENLY defended that the Brazilian industrial bourgeoisie shouldn't look for any kinds of ruptures with the agrarian oligarchies, much less with foreign capital. He defended that the Brazilian bourgeoisie should be allied to foreign capital, if not in the control of private companies, at least in the capital acumulation process. In his writings, Cardoso admits that he believes the Latin American countries would never be able to compete with developed countries in fair conditions. He OPENLY defends a submissive role from the Latin American governments as a way of sharing part of the profits constantly leaving the undeveloped worlds through market alliances between Latin American financial and industrial elites with the American and European elites. The "dependency theory" of Cardoso is known as nothing but a local early version of... neoliberalism. Neoliberalism disguised of "marxist theory", as well as his right-wing party is disguised of central-leftist. A strategy that really is not able to deceive anyone with a functional brain.

No wonder 40 years later he wrote, about his theory: "Forget everything that I wrote".

If you can read Portuguese, please see this article about Cardoso's dependecy theory published by the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo:

http://www.pucsp.br/neils/downloads/v7_martins_sotelo.pdf

"Breaking the cycle of financial and technological dependence" has never been the object of Cardoso's theory. He doesn't even talk about these subjects in his books. This was the agenda of Getúlio Vargas, whose government Cardoso abominates.

When Cardoso defends "modifications in the role of the state", he's advocating for free-market. When he calls for "the political articulation of a society", he's advocating in favor of a consensus among the local and foreign bourgeoisies. That'll be pretty obvious to you if you read the article I pointed to you.

If you want to discuss the subject further, I'll be right here. It's one of my favorites.