Caxirimbu: entre o latifúndio maranhense e a revolução camponesa

Abstract

Brazil is one of the countries with the highest concentration of land ownership in the world; large estates (latifúndio) are deeply rooted in Brazilian history. Agribusiness, which aims at accumulation through the MATOPIBA frontier, now perpetuates the existence of large estates. Within this perspective, this study aims to analyze the accumulation and concentration of land caused by the expansion of agribusiness and its impacts on the Caxirimbu community. The research adopted a qualitative-quantitative approach, including fieldwork conducted in situ in the Caxirimbu community, with interviews, photographs, empirical observations, documents, and newspapers. Data gathered from the internet and reports enabled the assessment of agribusiness expansion in Caxias. Through extensive bibliographic research, utilizing authors such as Marx and Alberto Guimarães, it was possible to understand the movement towards maintaining large estates. Additionally, with the contributions of authors like Alfredo Wagner and Viveiros, the study reconstructs rural dynamics to understand the development of the agrarian issue currently affecting the Caxias region, particularly Caxirimbu. This comprehensive analysis allows us to conclude that the "new" large estate frontier—agribusiness—surrounding Caxirimbu represents a conservative modernization that aims at land accumulation and speculation. Due to its intrinsic nature, this frontier has direct impacts, such as pesticide dispersal, water contamination, and flooding, as well as indirect impacts, such as the semi-proletarianization of farmers, impoverishment, and lack of public policies. Consequently, the new latifúndio weakens peasants and appropriates their land as part of an accumulation logic.