Inequality of Food Security and the Aleination of Marginalized Populations in Brazil
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Brazil is the largest country in South American covering an astounding land area of 8,456,511 sq km. It has a population of 205, 716, 890 people. The capital of Brazil is Brasilia. Brazil is the largest country in South America and is known for many beautiful things such as its famous Carnival celebrations, Christ the Redeemer and Copacabana beach that makes Rio de Janeiro a must see travel destination. Although these are positive attributes about Brazil, there are still many development issues the country faces.
The development issues that Brazil faces are not black and white. Especially, when it comes to achieving economic development it will always be intricate affecting various stakeholders. Two major development issues are Food Security and the construction of massive hydroelectric dam projects displacing marginalized indigenous and local populations. What can be drawn from both these development projects is that power and institutions often make decisions based on economic progress affecting the livelihoods of already marginalized populations in the society such as local farmers and indigenous populations. Large corporations often displace the local producers and the food produced locally is used for export rather than making it available for the impoverished populations in Brazil. This once again, highlights how the poorer populations (who also lacks power and agency) needs and livelihoods are not made a priority. The wealthy social classes end up doing better off and accumulating further power and this is explicit in Brazil as it is one of the most unequal societies in South America. This inequality can be brought into the issue of hydroelectric dam construction and the alienation of indigenous populations who have their rights written in the constitution but are still neglected. This inequality can also be brought into the issue of food security and access, which also affects employment in Brazil. If there is a large population living in poverty then the responsibility is in the hands of the government in order to provide for the people. Brazil has and continues to face instrumental difficulties with relation to power structures and dynamics of their countries, displacing those who are not wealthy.
The availability of power in any population plays a significant role in overcoming the barriers between poverty and prosperity, and in Brazil 83.8% of electricity is produced through hydroelectricity. Therefore, hydroelectric dams play a vital role in the economy of Brazil. But, like many development projects, hydroelectric dams have become a controversial issue. While hydroelectricity is a cheap source of power, it has a negative impact both environmentally and socially. Drawing from Marxist theory, specifically the concept of alienation, I will argue that the construction of the Belo Monte (BM) dam in Brazil has had a devastating social impact on the indigenous populations residing in the area. It has dispossessed them of their livelihoods and land and alienated their needs and culture in order to accomplish economic policies which benefit the state.
There are
beautiful attributes to the country but food insecurity is hiding behind these
travel points. Food security is a complex problem that many Latin American
countries face and the blame cannot be placed on one specific thing. Rather, in
the case of Brazil, it is worth exploring how political corruption is a key
contributor to the food crisis that is happening in Brazil. In 2012, Brazil had
the strongest economy in Latin America but has recently been experiencing a
decline and this is in part of government corruption that takes place within
the country (Food Security Portal). Corruption has contributed to widespread
poverty creating the accessibility to basic needs unattainable, creating inadequate
agriculture opportunity due to failed political promises and a drive to make
profit off of exports, along with an even larger gap between the rich and the
poor that has all contributed to food insecurity within Brazil.