Landless workers' movement

Definition

The landless workers' movement is a social and political movement in Latin America that advocates for land reform and the rights of rural laborers who do not own land. This movement seeks to address deep-rooted issues of poverty and inequality by mobilizing disenfranchised communities to demand access to land, social justice, and better living conditions. By focusing on land rights, the movement challenges the existing socio-economic structures and aims to reduce social exclusion in rural areas.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The landless workers' movement gained significant traction in Brazil during the 1980s with the formation of the MST (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra).
2. The movement often organizes occupations of unused or underutilized land as a means of asserting their right to land and drawing attention to land inequality.
3. Landless workers' movements have inspired similar efforts across Latin America, highlighting issues related to social justice and indigenous rights.
4. The movement emphasizes collective action and solidarity among rural communities to challenge powerful agribusiness interests and government policies.
5. The success of the landless workers' movement has led to increased awareness and dialogue about agrarian reform and rural development policies in various countries.

Review Questions

• How does the landless workers' movement connect to issues of poverty and social exclusion in rural Latin America?
  • The landless workers' movement directly addresses the issues of poverty and social exclusion by advocating for land rights for those without access to agricultural land. By mobilizing rural communities, it highlights how land ownership is essential for economic stability and social inclusion. The movement's focus on obtaining land allows individuals to escape cycles of poverty and empowers them to improve their living conditions.
• In what ways have social policies been influenced by the demands of the landless workers' movement in Latin America?
  • Social policies in Latin America have increasingly recognized the importance of agrarian reform due to the persistent advocacy from the landless workers' movement. This has led to initiatives aimed at redistributing land and implementing policies that support smallholder farmers. As a result, some governments have begun to adopt measures that address rural poverty, provide access to credit, and enhance agricultural productivity in response to the pressures from this movement.
• Evaluate the impact of U.S.-Latin American relations on the strategies employed by the landless workers' movement in pursuing their goals.
  • U.S.-Latin American relations have significantly shaped the strategies of the landless workers' movement, particularly through foreign policy that often prioritizes agribusiness interests. The backlash against neoliberal policies and U.S. support for certain governments has fueled resistance among these movements. By critiquing U.S. interventions and advocating for sovereignty over resources, the landless workers’ movement has sought not only to reclaim land but also to redefine their place within broader socio-political frameworks influenced by external powers.

Related terms

Agrarian Reform: A set of policies aimed at redistributing land from large landowners to landless or small-scale farmers to promote agricultural equity.

Social Movements: Collective efforts by groups of people to bring about social change, often in response to perceived injustices in society.

Poverty Alleviation: Strategies and initiatives aimed at reducing poverty levels through economic development, social policies, and access to resources.