The Politics of Agrarian Reform in Brazil ─ The Landless Rural Workers Movement

The Politics of Agrarian Reform in Brazil examines the interrelationships among peasant mobilization, agrarian reform and co-operativism in contemporary Brazil. Specifically, it addresses the challenges facing peasant movements in their pursuit of political and economic democracy. The book takes as a point of reference the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), the most dynamic force for progressive social change in Latin America today. Robles and Veltmeyer argue that the MST has established an innovative community-based model for consolidating agrarian reform and has effectively practiced the politics of land occupation and the politics of agricultural co-operativism to consolidate agrarian reform. This integrated approach to agrarian reform has reduced chronic poverty, enhanced peasant identity, and promoted environmental stewardship.

Wilder Robles is Assistant Professor of Rural Development at Brandon University, Canada.

Henry Veltmeyer is Professor Emeritus in International Development Studies at Saint Mary's University, Canada and Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Mexico.