Social and Political Implications of Drought Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF DROUGHT NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL

Maria Zefisa SOARES MENEZES

This article addresses the drought in Brazil as a social and historic phenomenon characterized by its broad scope and complexity. It aims to contribute to the debate about the challenges that the scourge of drought inflicts not only as a natural phenomenon but rather as a social and its consequences in the present-day context. The hypothesis developed in the research is that the government investment to combat the drought was not sufficient to resolve the multifaceted character of the social conflicts. The embezzlement of resources sharpens the contradictions in social context very fragile increasing the incidence of the conflicts. How to democratize the access to government resources allocated to combat the drought, considering of the power structure and the current political and economic dominance? How do social actors fight for participation in the definition and appropriation of public resources, in the elaboration and management of public policies to combat the drought, as well as the unveiling of this structure strew the "patronage"? In addition to food demands, social movements are demanding solutions to structure problems and beckoning changes, have in mind to overcoming economic and political forms of dominance. 

Key words: Drought.  Social mobilization.  Public policies.  Power structure.