Land Governance and Territorial Governance in Agrarian Reform in Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this article is to discuss governance within the context of agrarian reform in Brazil, highlighting the distinction and attributes of land governance and territorial governance. Agrarian reform is influenced by this duality, with the establishment of settlements being embedded in and dependent on land governance, while their consolidation requires territorial governance arrangements. Based on an analytical-reflective approach, the article initially presents the configurations of the concept of governance, the dimensions of land governance, and the fundamental elements of territorial governance, relating them to two central focuses, namely the agrarian question and land structure. Subsequently, the properties of governance in agrarian reform settlements in Brazil are discussed. The third section explores the governance framework aimed at achieving the objectives of agrarian reform. The concluding remarks indicate that governance linked to agrarian reform should be understood as a dynamic and contextualized process, oriented towards the consolidation of settlements. Future research should identify territorial governance arrangements and their attributes to fulfill the foundational principles of agrarian reform.