This article consists of a discussion, after an interval of 30 years, on the meaning of the turbulent 1970s in Brazilian and Latin-American demography. The authors use an approach that includes both self-criticism and celebration, bringing together written material and recollections about a phenomenon that, at that time, was a collective, scientific and political project in the region. The article thus deals with the social, political and economic context of the period, the characteristics of leading demographers of the time, the style of international funding for groups and institutions, and the critical character of scientific practice in demography during that period. In a critical appraisal of the intellectual history of a group, the authors recognize that the process under discussion allows for varying points of view and considerations. Bibliographic references are included in order to document some extant records and provide an agenda for those who may also want to study the same period.
Brazilian demography; Demography in Latin America; Fertility studies; History of demography