Movimento Sem Terra

The Socioeconomic context

The history of the MST is intrinsically linked to the history of land dispossession in Brazil since colonial times. The root causes of this dispossession can be traced to the latifúndia system (a semifeudal organization of large estates) established by the Portuguese crown during the 16th century to secure both territorial control and economic benefits. Initially, these large estates were granted to selected dona-tários (influential Portuguese noblemen) for their services and loyalty to the crown. The donatários developed and administered these large estates on behalf of the Portuguese crown. They also “pacified” indigenous peoples resistant to Portuguese rule by “incorporating” them into the colonial society and economy. Eventually, the crown granted the donatários, or their descendants, legal ownership of these large estates. These early latifundiários (large estate landowners) laid the foundation for the establishment of a privileged and powerful landholding class that continues to play a preeminent role in Brazil's social, political, and economic life.

In contrast to the progressive land-granting traditions of the United States, Canada, and Australia, land granting in Brazil was designed to benefit a small minority. Indeed, the establishment, and eventual expansion, of the latifúndia system led to an enormous concentration of land in the hands of a few, leading to the uprooting and impoverishment of peasants and the degradation of forest resources, particularly in the Brazilian Amazon. These problems intensified in the 1960s and subsequent decades with the introduction of agricultural modernization. Globalization has further exacerbated this situation. Currently, almost 46% of the country's total registered agricultural land belongs to 1.6% of landowners (Table 1), and more than 20 million rural people live in poverty, including 5 million landless peasants. Notably, most of the agricultural land is presently under corporate control (Table 2).

The unjust agrarian structure has given rise to intermittent peasant rebellions. For example, in the early 1960s, under the leadership of the Peasant Leagues, landless peasants mobilized across Brazil to demand comprehensive land [Page 1950]reform from the “leftist” government of João Gou-lart (1961–1964). In response, frightened latifún-diarios called for military intervention and greeted with relief the military coup of 1964. The military acted swiftly and roughly to reassert control, banning peasant organizations and brutally repressing the peasant leaders. This repression effectively quelled peasant activism until the mid 1970s.

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