Old narratives, old strategies, new blockades

The former JPCI of Land and the new CPI of the MST

Abstract

This article compare the CPMI on land issues  and the current CPMI on the MST. By verifying similarities and differences between both procedures, we intend to provide a prognosis on the possible consequences and impacts of this parliamentary movement, which can be considered one of the greatest challenges of the new government. Through the strategies adopted in the 2003 Joint CPI, a forecast of the expected results of the current CPI can be made, as well as of the obstacles to agrarian reform policies that may arise from it. The study is presented into three parts. In the first one, we develop a general analysis of the CPMI on land, its objectives, and the strategies adopted by the rural caucus to silence dissonant voices and, eventually, delegitimize the social movements regarding the fight for land. The second part analyzes the CPI on the MST and the acts practiced so far, based on a comparison with the CPMI performed 20 years ago. The last part tries, through analyzing the repetitiveness of the narratives and strategies adopted by the oligarchic congressional representation, to foresee what can be expected from the current CPI. This article uses a prospective research approach based on empirical document analysis and a bibliographic review. Conclude that the CPI on the MST should have similar results to those of the CPMI on land issues, which, along with the strong organization of the rural caucus, shows that implementing an effective agrarian reform will be challenging for the government.