Jacob Blanc examines the creation of the Itaipu Dam-the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the world-on the Brazil-Paraguay border during the 1970s and 1980s to explore the long-standing conflicts around land, rights, indigeneity, and identity in rural Brazil.
Focusing on the Prestes Column, Jacob Blanc presents a fresh interpretation of this significant rebellion in Brazil from 1924 to 1927, highlighting its role in national politics. He introduces the concept of "interior history," examining how the march symbolized the perceived dichotomy between Brazil's interior and coastal elites. Through diverse sources, including memoirs and government archives, Blanc explores the column's rise to prominence and its lasting impact, providing a novel perspective on the relationship between space and national identity.