MST’s Fight for Land Reform in Brazil
Founded in 1984, the Brazilian Landless Workers Movement (MST) mobilizes landless farmers to settle and cultivate unused land held by wealthy landowners. After occupying an area, MST seeks legal ownership through petitions and legislation, using a constitutional article that allows unproductive land for agrarian reform. Despite government promises of land reform, redistribution has been limited. Currently, 1% of the population owns half of Brazil’s land, while nearly five million rural workers remain landless.
Organizing Land Occupations
MST organizers work with landless families in new areas, identifying unused, fertile land with disputed ownership. They often stay for months, preparing families for occupation and assigning tasks to encourage community ownership. On the planned day, families peacefully cross barriers to occupy the land. If evicted, they leave but return when allowed. MST then informs the national land reform agency and presses for legalization. This push includes public marches, government building occupations, and protests.
Achievements and Challenges
The legalization process can take up to five years. Yet, MST has secured land for about 250,000 families across 1,600 settlements. These communities establish schools, health clinics, and sustainable farms, ensuring access to essentials like food and education. Despite occasional violence, MST’s approach has proven effective in reclaiming land for productive use.
The Brazilian Landless Workers Movement puts pressure on the government to enact reforms while at the same time providing support — in the form of peacefully occupied farming land — to victims of abuse. MST’s story is a remarkable one: peaceful occupations leading to real change for thousands of people who can now support themselves agriculturally. While the occupations alone would have been divisive and dangerous, when combined with pressure on the government to enact promised land reforms they became part of a successful campaign. MST is able to safely use this tactic by ensuring that a sufficient number of people participate. If landowners or local authorities use violence against the peaceful occupiers, MST activists generate pressure through the media attention. There are numerous examples of land occupations in other parts of the world that have not been peacefully carried out or that have resulted in high incidents of violence. The use of this approach carries great risk in some contexts and must be very carefully planned and carried out to ensure nonviolence.
New Tactics in Human Rights does not advocate for or endorse specific tactics, policies or issues.
