Seven theses about the rural world in Brazil

Abstract

This article presents seven theses that intend to interpret the current situation and the development tendencies for Brazilian agriculture and livestock, and its rural areas. Based on the first thesis, which argues for the existence of a new phase in the country’s agricultural and agrarian history, thus establishing a new pattern of capital accumulation, the following six theses are associated to diverse facets, but the set of theses are necessary to interpret the current state of affairs and future challenges – from new challenges posed to the production and diffusion of agricultural innovations to an increasing economic infeasibility of small rural establishments; from the need of better adjustment in government action to the lack of a rural development policy. The article also suggests, as another thesis, that this new phase may be marginalizing the importance of debates that, in the past, involved discussions about rural areas and their particularities.