A universidade e o desenvolvimento nacional: reflexões acerca do papel das universidades latino-americanas na superação do subdesenvolvimento

Abstract

The present work seeks to understand the role of universities in overcoming underdevelopment in Latin America. Thus, in order to achieve this objective, a bibliographic research will be carried out, which will begin with an analysis of the participation of universities in the national development of countries of the capitalist center after the Industrial Revolution, thus verifying if these institutions can really serve as an engine for development. Then, in order to advance in the understanding of the characteristics of Latin American universities, a diagnosis will be made based on the theoretical framework proposed by Darcy Ribeiro. According to this author, Latin American universities face a multiple crisis that is characterized through conjunctural, political, structural, intellectual and ideological aspects. autonomous growth. From this perspective, the diagnosis carried out seeks to understand the conditions that lead Latin American universities to implement projects of reflex development in their nations. Finally, we will carry out a dialogue between the thoughts of Darcy Ribeiro and Florestan Fernandes who have different perspectives on the possibility of Latin American universities serving as an engine for overcoming underdevelopment. From the reflections carried out, we understand that in fact universities can play a great role in the processes of development, and in overcoming underdevelopment in the Latin American case, however, they cannot be engines of development by themselves, thus needing to be inserted in a political development project in order to meet the interests of national development.