Rural development in Brazil: social processes, public policies and theoretical approaches.

摘要

This paper analyzes the major theories on rural development in Brazil. It is argued that the agenda of rural development in Brazil, in which scholars, organizations and institutions actively participate, have been formulated by state and public politics implemented since the 1990's. Among the factors that have influenced the debate on rural developemnt, are the increasing social and political legitimacy of family farming and agrarian reform, the reorientation of state policies, the increasingly sharp political and ideological conflict with the agribusiness sector and the matters on sustainability. It is also argued that the analytical and interpretative references that have been used by the schools are still diffused and varied, but have been capable of influencing the policymakers. As a result, the discussions on rural development in Brazil are relatively influenced by politics and the government's agenda.