The political economy of land struggle in Brazil under Workers' Party governments

Abstract

This paper analyses the agrarian policies of the governments of Presidents Lula (2003) and Dilma Rousseff (2011 The paper examines government actions, the historical causes and roots of land conflicts, and struggles for land and territory, as well as the difficulties of mobilization. The paper focuses upon political disputes, particularly new processes of criminalization, economic disputes, surrounding the role of agribusiness, and the challenges related to struggles for land and territorial rights in a situation ruled by a progressive party and governments.

The Dismantling of Family Farming Policies in Brazil and Argentina

“…In Brazil, a distinction can be made between the so-called "new social movements" (environmentalists, indigenous groups and agroecologists) (Touraine, 1978) on the one side, which are less aligned with governmental efforts, and traditional unions on the other side (Gohn, 2011). The former have managed to mobilize broader sectors in society; however, they have more recently faced attacks, including criminalization by the judiciary power (Sauer & Mézsáros, 2017). In Argentina, together with the constitution and the legal formalization of the Federation of Family Farming Organizations (Fonaf) in 2011, other alternative initiatives led by landless producers, peasants and members of indigenous communities have emerged which questioned the "close ties" between Fonaf and the national government (Nogueira et al, 2017).…”

A coup foretold: Fernando Lugo and the lost promise of agrarian reform in Paraguay

“…Due process fell by the wayside as Congress rushed through the “express” impeachment (Nickson, , p. 17). In this respect, Lugo's ousting is an emblematic case of a “smart coup”, a process that is increasingly being witnessed throughout the region “whereby Left governments are forced out of office and a new Right‐orientated government put in place, with, preferably, relatively little bloodshed and an element of popular and institutional legitimacy” (Cannon, , p. 119—in the case of Brazil, see Sauer & Mészáros, , in this special issue).…”

“…the region "whereby Left governments are forced out of office and a new Right-orientated government put in place, with, preferably, relatively little bloodshed and an element of popular and institutional legitimacy" (Cannon, 2016, p. 119-in the case of Brazil, see Sauer & Mészáros, 2017, in this special issue).…”

O AGROGOLPE E A POLÍTICA EXTERNA: desmantelo da diplomacia do combate à fome e fortalecimento do agronegócio

“…Embora seja possível registrar que aqueles governos trouxeramcada um a seu modo -avanços importantes em termos de combate à fome e de desenvolvimento da pequena agricultura familiar no âmbito da política externa, os governos do PT também promoveram agendas contraditórias aos princípios da soberania alimentar, da justiça social e de reformas políticas estruturantes que consideramos fundamentais. Dois grandes exemplos domésticos são a ausência de uma reforma agrária efetiva e a liberação de transgênicos (FERNANDES, 2015;SAUER, MÉSZÁROS, 2017). No plano internacional, a defesa de agrocombustíveis e de projetos de larga-escala, como o ProSavana em Moçambique, bem como a utilização de cooperação técnica internacional Sul-Sul para abrir mercados, demonstram as contradições da política externa brasileira (ARAGÃO, 2017;CESARINO, 2015;CLEMENTS;FERNANDES, 2013;ZIEGLER, 2013).…”