Crisis of Praxis: Depoliticization and Leftist Fragmentation in Brazil By
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Crisis of Praxis: Depoliticization and Leftist Fragmentation in Brazil by Sabrina Fernandes A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Sociology Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario © 2017 Sabrina Fernandes i Abstract This dissertation focuses on two problems in Brazilian left politics: fragmentation and depoliticization. There is consensus inside the Brazilian left regarding its fragmentation, but the scenario requires a careful analysis of fragmentation since the conjunctural change of June 2013. The same can be said about depoliticization, explained here through the phenomena of post-politics and ultra-politics, and which is arguably the marker of the difficulties the left has found to mobilize the working class even as this class is under attack. This dissertation fills the gap in the literature by addressing these two problems from the Gramscian-influenced perspective of a crisis of praxis. The concept of a crisis of praxis is proposed to attend to the misalignment between theory and practice at the leftist organizational level that has led to melancholia and distance from the consciousness of the class, despite the potential held by new mobilizations – both spontaneous and organized. It is argued that without properly addressing fragmentation and depoliticization, the left will have trouble appealing to the working class, especially given the conclusions of a crisis of representation that was exposed in Brazil in June 2013 and capitalized on by right-wing conservative forces in order to foster political instability in their favour. ii This dissertation is dedicated to the loving memory of Simone Peres, who will continue to inspire those fighting for social justice in Brazil for years to come. iii Acknowledgements The path I began trailing in 2012 to write this dissertation is not the one where I ended up in 2016, and I am thankful for that. The idea for this dissertation was born from political and personal struggle, so change was a constant theme throughout. I could not have withstood this challenging course without the help of some incredible people. My first thank you goes to my doctoral supervisor Justin Paulson, who truly embodies the meaning of mentorship. Justin helped me craft the foundation of my research project at a turbulent political time, encouraging me to take on the challenge of studying revolution and counter-revolution as they happened. A careful listener, he guided me through fieldwork and all of my conflicts as a militant-researcher, including during moments of health-related distress, while, of course, helping me sail through programme requirements and those endless funding applications. Justin is one element of an amazing PhD committee, which I consider myself lucky to have been able to put together. I offer my sincere gratitude to Rebecca Schein for her disposition to help, even when it meant just having me brainstorm with her in her office when I showed up with a clueless look in my face. Thank you also to Marie-Eve Carrier-Moisan, who I consider a true friend in my years at Carleton. Marie-Eve mentored me as a teacher and a peer, and helped to boost my interests through amazing opportunities in teaching and research assistantships. I hope to one day be as much help to you as you have been to me! I'm also grateful for the thoughtful guidance and collaboration offered by Stefan Klein as a fieldwork supervisor at the University of Brasília. iv There are many other people in the Carleton community who have impacted me during my tenure at the university and I may not be able to mention everyone. I would like to highlight my thank you to the staff at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology as well as the encouragement and recognition given by many faculty members such as Aaron Doyle, Neil Gerlach, Peter Gose and Janet Siltanen over the past four and a half years. My PhD cohort is also worthy of a special mention, especially Sarah, Melissa, Kyle, Konstantin and Adam, who learned to give and receive support in a very special way in academia. Thank you also to Donna Coghill for being the amazing person you are and the true glue of my dear Institute of Political Economy. Thank you to my friends Brynne, Nikki, Steven, Mikhail, Lucas, Daniel, Ananda, Késsia, Patty and many others for the emotional support throughout this journey and the interesting and stimulating conversations. Very few people would be able to finish a project like this without loving support from their family, and I am not one of them. My father and my mother have been true believers in my academic potential and have showed patience at every step on the way. My sister Sinara could not have been more loving and encouraging, and I hope I can always be there for her too. My brother Samuel has been – himself an academic in the making – a cheerleader and propeller to my efforts, pushing me to be better each time. Thanks for the debates, the intellectual struggles, and the emotional support and guidance no one else could have given when I needed it. I love you all endlessly! Thanks finally to those not mentioned but who know the implicit value of their contributions. Personal circumstances change, but the material impact we make on each others’ lives, especially throughout intensive journeys such as the researching and writing of a doctoral dissertation, is certain and lasting. v “The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.” Antonio Gramsci vi Table of contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... iii Table of contents ........................................................................................................ vi List of tables................................................................................................................. x List of illustrations ..................................................................................................... xi Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1 Depoliticized conflicts .......................................................................................................... 4 Crisis of praxis ..................................................................................................................... 6 Fragmented actors ............................................................................................................... 9 The June effect ................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter I: Crisis of praxis ....................................................................................... 15 Foundations of the concept of praxis ............................................................................... 15 Praxis .................................................................................................................................. 28 Left praxis and politicization .......................................................................................... 33 Where is the radical in revolutionary praxis? ................................................................ 36 Between radical ideas and counter-revolutionary distractions ....................................... 39 June during a crisis of praxis ........................................................................................... 49 Thinking June 2013 ......................................................................................................... 55 Between fragmentation and dialogue .............................................................................. 63 Chapter II: The moderate left ................................................................................. 68 The Workers’ Party (PT) .................................................................................................. 71 vii Trasformismo: the establishment of the moderate left .................................................... 76 Party crisis and political reform as maintenance of power ............................................. 82 The Communist Party of Brazil ....................................................................................... 87 Note on the Workers’ Cause Party .................................................................................. 88 The CUT ............................................................................................................................. 90 The MST ............................................................................................................................. 94 Chapter III: The radical left .................................................................................. 101 Political parties .............................................................................................................. 106 Social Movements ......................................................................................................... 136 Labour Unions ............................................................................................................... 146 The radical left in the fragmented context ...................................................................