In 1965, after a coup led by Jose de Magalhaes Pinto and others, the military dictatorship closed down all the Brazilian political parties that had been active since 1945. The regime then allowed the creation of just two parties, one pro-government and the other an opposition party. This book analyzes the history of the National Renewal Alliance (Alianca Renovadora Nacional ARENA), the party created to support the military government. ARENA included the main leaders of Brazils previously existing conservative parties. Its early years were marked by political uncertainty as the military regime engaged with the pro-government party. The militarys intervention in the political field brought about disagreements regarding autonomy and policy, and politicians and leaders unwilling to toe the military line were circumscribed through removal from office and the stripping of political rights via decree. Lucia Grinberg sets out to explain how the legitimacy of the party was viewed by different parties (especi