The Conflict Over Land Reform in Rural Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, adynamic force in world events and a country ofprofound contrasts where land ownership is the mostskewed on earth. The struggle for land has markedBrazil's history and is destined to have evengreater future impact. This book studies theBrazilian Landless Peasant Movement (Movimento SemTerra, MST), one of the most important contemporarysocial movements in the world. The MST struggles toresolve inequalities in Brazil's rural regions byproviding members with land and an opportunity for adignified life. Using social movement and radicalplanning theories this book analyzes the practicalimplications of agrarian reform and organicagricultural self-subsistence. It presents acomprehensive case study of a MST permanent communalsettlement (agrovila) in the state of Rio Grande doSul; the life histories of its members open a windowinto the soul of the MST and its future. This workprovides poignant insights for those interested insocial movements, neoliberalism, identity,marginalization, globalization, community ruraldevelopment and all those with a passion for socialjustice.

Autorentext

Researcher in Latin American identity, culture and social movements. PhD program, Latin American Studies focusing on Political Science, (on leave) State University of New York, Albany. MCRP and MA, Community Regional Planning and International Studies, University of Oregon. Lic., Anthropology, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador.

Klappentext
Brazil is the largest country in Latin America, a dynamic force in world events and a country of profound contrasts where land ownership is the most skewed on earth. The struggle for land has marked Brazil's history and is destined to have even greater future impact. This book studies the Brazilian Landless Peasant Movement (Movimento Sem Terra, MST), one of the most important contemporary social movements in the world. The MST struggles to resolve inequalities in Brazil's rural regions by providing members with land and an opportunity for a dignified life. Using social movement and radical planning theories this book analyzes the practical implications of agrarian reform and organic agricultural self-subsistence. It presents a comprehensive case study of a MST permanent communal settlement (agrovila) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul; the life histories of its members open a window into the soul of the MST and its future. This work provides poignant insights for those interested in social movements, neoliberalism, identity, marginalization, globalization, community rural development and all those with a passion for social justice.