by PublicABCP
Translated and reviewed by Matheus Lucas Hebling
The study Opening the Black Box: An Empirical Analysis of the Determinants of Successful Indigenous Land Demarcations in Brazil, published in Opinião Pública, investigates the factors that influence whether Indigenous land demarcation processes are successfully completed in the country. Conducted by researchers from various Brazilian institutions, the work seeks to understand why some Indigenous Territories (TIs) achieve formal recognition, while others remain stalled without full demarcation.
The study was carried out by Leonardo Barros Soares (UFV), Catarina Chaves Costa (PhD candidate in Political Science – USP), Marina de Barros Fonseca (PhD candidate in Social Anthropology – National Museum/UFRJ), Victor Amaral Costa (MA in Anthropology – UFSCar and specialized indigenist at Funai), Ana Paula Alvares Costa (BA in Letters – UEPA), and Yasmin Nascimento Moita (BA in Law – CESUPA).
The research examines a process that is often treated as purely administrative but, as the authors argue, entails complex political and social variables.
The article’s central objective is to analyze how institutional and non-institutional factors influence the completion of Indigenous land demarcation processes in Brazil. The study innovates by applying Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)—a methodology rooted in political science—to a topic traditionally explored through anthropology.
This method enabled the authors to examine a broader set of 40 demarcation cases in different regions of the country, in contrast with earlier studies that focused on a small number of cases. Through this approach, the research encourages future scholarship on the topic to incorporate political science methods.
The study highlights that intragroup cohesion among Indigenous leaders and the organization of mobilizations and protests are decisive factors for successful demarcation. According to the authors, these collective actions operate as mechanisms of pressure on the state, accelerating the demarcation process and often overcoming administrative and legal obstacles.
The research shows that, in the cases analyzed, the unity of Indigenous leadership and their ability to coordinate protests and strategic advocacy efforts were crucial for advancing demarcation, even in unfavorable contexts. Although there are formal bureaucratic avenues for territorial recognition, the study demonstrates that the active intervention of Indigenous peoples not only speeds up the process but is frequently decisive in ensuring that territorial rights are effectively implemented.
For the academic field, the study offers an innovative application of political science methodologies to a topic usually addressed within anthropology. Its findings may also support policymakers and political representatives in understanding the complexity and inherently political nature of land demarcation. Furthermore, the conclusions provide valuable insights for Indigenous communities, their organizations, and allies, helping them design more effective mobilization strategies to defend their territorial rights.
Author Profiles
Leonardo Barros Soares holds a degree in Psychology from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC). He earned his MA (2013) and PhD (2019) in Political Science from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). He is a professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and former collaborator of the Political Science Graduate Program at UFPA. He coordinates the CNPq research group POPIAM – Politics and Indigenous Peoples in the Americas, as well as the ABCP Indígena project.
Catarina Chaves Costa is a PhD student (CAPES fellow) and holds an MA in Political Science from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), as well as a bachelor’s degree in Law from CESUPA. She is a member of the Judiciary and Democracy Group (JUDE) and a researcher at the Politics and Indigenous Peoples in the Americas group (POPIAM).
Marina de Barros Fonseca is a PhD candidate in Social Anthropology at the National Museum (UFRJ). She holds an MA in Social Anthropology and both a BA in Anthropology and a teaching degree in Social Sciences from the University of Brasília. She is a member of the Laboratory and Study Group on Interethnic Relations (LaGERI/UnB).
Victor Amaral Costa holds a BA in Social Sciences and an MA in Social Anthropology from the Federal University of São Carlos. He works as a specialized indigenist at FUNAI with Indigenous societies in the Tapajós basin, focusing on the Juruena sub-basin.
Ana Paula Alvares Costa holds a BA in Letters from the State University of Pará (UEPA) and a postgraduate degree in Interpretation and Translation from FIBRA – Faculdade Integrada Brasil Amazônia.
Yasmin Nascimento Moita is a specialist in Public Law (Faculdade Unyleya) and holds a BA in Law from CESUPA. She is a researcher in the Group on Artificial Intelligence, Democracy and Fundamental Rights (PPGD/CESUPA) and in the Politics and Indigenous Peoples in the Americas Group (POPIAM) (PROPESP/UFPA).
Technical Information
Title: Opening the Black Box: An Empirical Analysis of the Determinants of Successful Indigenous Land Demarcations in Brazil
Authors: Leonardo Barros Soares, Catarina Chaves Costa, Marina de Barros Fonseca, Victor Amaral Costa, Ana Paula Alvares Costa, and Yasmin Nascimento Moita
Year of Publication: 2024
Where to read: Opinião Pública, Volume 30
