Abstract
This paper analyze the relations between Argentina and Brazil during First World War using the scientific history of Rudolf Kraus and Arthur Neiva. The conflict showed that the idealized European civilization failed in many aspects and open new perspectives in America countries. One of them was an increasing attention to medical research and assistance to endemic diseases of Brazil and Argentina´s hinterland. Considering the acknowledge fore-front of Brazil in the study of tropical diseases, Arthur Neiva evaluate the Argentinean increasing attention to endemic diseases as a menace. The scientific history of both showed that Brazilian and Argentinean cooperation comprised an implicit competition which was also expressed by contemporary debates about Argentinean neutrality and the search for scientific hegemony in South America. Following the perspective of transnational history it is argued that national issues encompassed questions which overcame internal events.
Key-words:
competition; cooperation; Science; Brazil; Argentina; First World War