The aim of this article is to analyze the way some schools of thought represented by persons of renown look upon the issue of regional integration in Brazil. The focus is on the second half of the 20th century, seeking to understand the conceptions of the country's regional and international projection that ground the possibilities for integration. To this end, the following themes are discussed: the role of the State; the vision for the country; nationalism; economic development and underdevelopment; international recognition; and neighbors' perception. The idea of specificity in relation to neighboring countries is an element present in the work of intellectuals and policy-makers. It is also present in other countries, including in countries of this region. We endeavor to understand how this idea evolved in Brazil, culminating in the 1980s with the acceptance of the existence of a community of interests with the countries of the Southern Cone and of South America.
Regional Integration; Brazilian Foreign Policy; Brazilian Thought