SUSTAINABILXTYFROM BELOW: THE MsT AND Carla Giles Anttinez de Mayolo B.Sc. Hons., Oxford Brookes University, 1994 THESIS SUBMITED IN PARïiAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIFIEMENTS FOR mE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARE In the Program of Latin Arnerican Studies O Carla Giles 2001 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY August 2001 Al1 rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. The author bas granted a non- L'auteut a accordé une licence non exclusive licence aüowing the exclusive permettant ii la National Library of Canada to Bhliothéque nationale du Canada de reprduce, loan, distriiute or seil reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in rnicroform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/fiim, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts hmit Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract This thesis focuses on the Brazilian rurai sector and the stmggle of the Landless Rural Workers Movement (Mafor agrarian reform and social justice. Rural policies in Bradl have been mainly directed to the growth and modemization of large-scale agricultural and livestock production, especiaiiy through the provision of subsidized credit. This process of modernization has exacerbated disparltles in the countryside. It has also contributed to growlng landlessness and a massive rural exodus to major urban centers in the 1970s and 1980s. Problems of widespread poverty and underemployment have becorne particularly severe in the countryside in the 1990s. These problems detract from political, econornic, and socio-cultural sustainability in many intertwined ways. Ecological sustainability ts aiso problematic, especially due to the elevated use of agrochemicals and pesticides, and the emphasis on monoculture production associated with the use of Green Revolution technologies. As a response to deteriorating conditions in the countryside for smallholders and landless rural workers, the MST emerged in 1984, and has since become the most active and autonomous popular force in the Brazllian countryside. Recently. The MST has been successful in influencing state poîicy and making agrarian refonn a higher priority of the Cardoso administration (1995-).The strength of the movement especfaiiy derives from its strong orgarrizational structure, its capacity for mobiiization, and a continuing emphasis on leadership formation. The purpose of this thesis is to examine how the MST is contributing to sustalnable development practices through the provision of alternatives for the rural landless, one of the poorest sectors of the Brazilian population. It does this both through theoreticai, policy-oriented initiatives and via practicai, 'on the ground' development acüvities. As numerous settlements of agrarian reform have been formed, the MST has expanded its struggle for broader development goais in areas iike human rights and social justice. Its contributions take place in both the productive sphere (Le.. through support for more democratic participation in the reform settlements and more inclusionaty forms of production) and the reproductive sphere [Le., through the creation of better educationai, cultural and recreationai opportunities for poor rurai farniliesl. Para meus anaDres, JeaCubriel, e Isabelle. Para mis padres, Antonio y Bhbara Para os sem-tena.. Approval ......................................................................................................ii Abstract ......................................................................................................iii List of Tables ......................... ...... ........................................................vi List of Figures and Maps .............................................................................vii Acronyms ............................. .. ..................................................................viii Glossary ......................................................................................................ix INTRODUCTION............................................................................................. -1 Development and Sustainabiiity ................................................................-4 Theoretical Approach ............................................................................... 11 Research Methodology ...............................................................................12 Outline of Thesis.. ...................................................................................... -12 1. ORIGINSAM) Evounro~O? MST ........................................................13 Who are the Sem-Terra?............................................................................. 15 Origins of the MST ......................................................................................15 Formation of the MST ................................................................................18 Evolution of the MST ................................................................................. 19 Concluding Comments ................................................................................25 II .RURAL BRMIL AMI SUSTARUUWTY.......................................................... 26 The Role of Smallholders in Sustainable Agriculture ...................................26 Structural Obstacles to the Sustainabfflty of Family Agriculture .................31 The Economic Dimension ................................................................ -32 The Political Dimension .................................................................... 39 The Socio cuItural Dimension ......................................................... 46 The Ecological Dimension ................................................................ -54 Conclusion: Implications for sustainabüity .................................................57 IiI . The Conceptuai and Poiîcy-oriented Initfadver of the lld8T ............59 The Economic Dimension ...........................................................................-60 Agrarian Reform and Supporting Programs ...................................... 60 Enhancing the Competitiveness of Settlers....................................... 68 The Political Dimension ..............................................................................72 Participation ....................................................................................-73 Human Rights and Leadership Formation ........................................76 The Role of Intemal and External Support....................................... 79 The Socio-Cultural Dimension ................................................................... 81 Quality of Life ..................................................................................1 Access to Education .........................................................................82 Health Matters ................................................................................. 83 The Role of Culture in Struggle ......................................................... 84 The Ecological Dimension .......................................................................... -85 Environmentally-related Policy Demands ........................................ -85 Combîning Ecological Sustahabiiity with Production .......................87 Concluding Comrnents ................................................................................ 88 nt .The Prictîcd Contrlbuttom of the MST to SuitiinrbUty ................90 The Econornic Diniension ..................... ... .............................................-90 Access to Land .................................................................................-90 The Formation of Collective Production Groupa ................................92 The Socio-economic Impact of Settlements on Neighbourlng Communities ................................................................................... 101 Conduding Comments ....................... .. .......................................102 The Political Dimension .......................................................................... 102 nie Formation of Citizens: Inclusion ................................................103 The Education and Poiitlcal Formation of the Youth .........................106 Wumen in Stmggie ......................................................................... 106 The Socio-Cultural Dimension ................................................................. 107 Quaïity of Life ................................................................................ 108 Access to Education ........................................................................109 Health ..............................................................................................112 Culture ...................................................................................... il4 The Ecologicd Dimension .........................................................................115 The Conciliation of Ecological Sustainabiiity with Production ...........115 Concludhg Comrnents ........... .. ...............................................................-116