The land struggle in Mato Grosso do Sul and the maintenance of latifundia

an analysis of occupations, land reform and land structure

Abstract

This work derives from the Land and Territory Study Group (GETT) discussions and analyzes, which is linked to the Agrarian Geography Laboratory (GEOAGRÁRIA), of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas (MS) campus and from actions of the DATALUTA/MS project, linked to the national DATALUTA Network. The objective is to analyze the agrarian question in Mato Grosso do Sul today, discussing data on the land use, land structure, land struggle and land reform, highlighting the agrarian issues resulting from the occupation process and from the conversion of public and indigenous lands on private land. It is based on theoretical assumptions related to the problems arising from the development of capitalism in the countryside and from the class struggle, inherent to the agrarian question. To support the discussions, data on land occupations and settlements creation from the Land Struggle Database (DATALUTA) were used. These data, systematized in graphs, made it possible to analyze the dynamics of the land struggle in Mato Grosso do Sul. In addition, there are also land structure data obtained from DATALUTA and a second georeferenced database from the INCRA. The data presented show the devastating power of the monopoly of capitalist land ownership in Mato Grosso do Sul and its impacts on the struggle of socio-territorial movements for Agrarian Reform.