Experiences of struggles in a post-neoliberal context in Brazil: 2003-2013

Abstract

This article analyzes and produces summaries on social struggles in Brazil in the period 2003-2013, it highlights the contradictions of the period that allowed extraordinary conditions for expanded reproduction of capital and, more importantly, that provoked massive demonstrations on June, 2013. In the theoretical plan it discusses the problem of periodization, the international economic conjuncture of the period, it develops the problem of relationship between State and social struggles and it sustains the actuality of Florestan Fernandes’ concept of dependent capitalism. The empirical basis of the study comprises primary sources (a) on conflicts and struggles from the field and (b)on urban workers ' strikes and (c) the timelines of the social conflicts of the Social Observatory of Latin America. The study presents the large numbers of social conflicts, it indicates trends of struggles and it elaborates contributions to analyze the correlation of forces. It discusses the situation of employees in the public and private sectors, occupations of land, covering the struggles for agrarian reform and against the expropriations in the field and the conflicts involving indigenous people in struggle against corporations in the energy sector in the Northern Region. In the last section, it examines June 2013 journeys as a political expression of the precarious workers, the new social subjects entering the scene of Brazilian social struggles in the 21st century.