Ernst Pijning’s “Controlling Contraband” fundamentally redefines the understanding of “illegal trade” in 18th-century Rio de Janeiro, arguing that it was not a marginal or purely criminal activity, but rather an integral and often condoned part of the colonial economy and society.

The book posits that the distinction between “condoned” and “proscribed” illegal trade was fluid, dependent on factors like social status, political utility, and the interests of various administrative bodies.

This flexibility, rather than being a sign of weakness, was a strategic tool used by the Portuguese crown and local authorities to maintain control, generate revenue, and navigate complex international relations.

This isn’t your typical dry academic treatment of trade policy.

Pijning has uncovered a world where corruption wasn’t a bug in the system — it was a feature.

Drawing from court records, government documents, and contemporary literature, he reveals how contraband became the lifeblood of colonial Brazil, tolerated and even encouraged when it served the right interests.

What makes this book essential reading: The Portuguese Empire’s official trade monopolies were largely fiction. Pijning demonstrates how colonial officials systematically looked the other way— or actively participated — when contraband served their economic and political needs. This wasn’t chaos; it was calculated pragmatism that kept the colonial economy afloat.

The book tackles three explosive questions:

• How did illegal trade actually build 18th-century Brazilian society?
• What was Portugal’s real strategy for “controlling” contraband (hint: it wasn’t control)?
• Who held the power to decide when laws mattered—and when they didn’t?

Pijning overturns conventional wisdom about Brazil-Portugal relations, revealing a colonial system built on contradiction and compromise. Controlling Contraband shows us that understanding the illegal economy isn’t just about crime—it’s about understanding how power really worked in colonial Brazil.

For anyone fascinated by the gap between official policy and messy reality, this book delivers insights that resonate far beyond the 18th century.

For a podcast discussing this book, go here