The border region of São Borja-Brazil / Santo Tomé-Argentina traditional social representations after construction of the Bridge Integration (1994-1997)

Abstract

The border area São Borja-Brazil / Santo Tomé-Argentina has since period reductional (century XVI), a relationship marked by processes of cultural exchange, social, and economic. The proper border has as limit the river Uruguay, body of water that was of great importance to the trade of yerba mate, access the Paraguayan War, and pratices riverine present. In 1997, it was built on the border bridge Integration, until then the transfer was via balkan. The trajectory historical regional allowed to be incorporated diverse social practices, identities and cultural elements border. The proposed study focused on examining the relations socio-cultural of the border, turning to the interpretation of political during the construction of the bridge integration, social representations, and socio-territorial identities. Therefore, we carried out analysis of news content, the regional historiography, and socio-cultural practices of the border. The article instigates think the border as region porous and selective, which is characterized by an border identity marked by chamges cultural missionaries, gauchos, and riverine.