Knowing the enemy is necessary

the National Information Service and the information community in the Brazilian military dictatorship

Abstract

This article analyzes the emergence of the National Intelligence Service (SNI), created in 1964 during the civil -military dictatorship in Brazil, as well as the intelligence community. In over twenty years of existence, the SNI spied on the lives of thousands of citizens suspected of subversion. It seeks to understand the actions in this work, the structure of the body and its relationship with the intelligence community, which participated in various organs of information, such as the Army, Air Force, Navy and civilian police, military and federal. This information community, coordinated by SNI, produced data on the performance of alleged subversives, giving support to the repressive forces. On the other hand, it is important to understand the theoretical framework that guided the action of the organ. In this sense, also will consider the concepts of the National Security Doctrine, Revolutionary War, as well as courses and training for secret agents, some of which originated in the old Federal Information and Counter Information Service (SFICI).