O cooperativismo agrário no Brasil: uma análise jurídico-comparativa na perspectiva de desenvolvimento democrático no campo

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the cooperative movement, with a particular focus on rural Brazil, its specific characteristics, inherent dichotomies, and the impact of its relationship with the State on public policy and derivative legislation. It seeks to explore alternative legal frameworks that support a form of cooperativism grounded in democratic principles, inclusive of small producers, and conducive to the regional development of rural communities.The objective is to advocate for a legal system more attuned to social realities—contextualized by societal demands and capable of serving as an instrument for the realization of justice. This study is structured as bibliographic research and employs historical-dialectical, hypotheticaldeductive, and comparative methods. It also utilizes bibliographic review techniques and the principles of historical-legal investigation.The primary theoretical framework for questioning the social role of law draws from the works of Castanheira Neves, Aroso Linhares, and Lyra Filho. In relation to cooperativism, this dissertation relies on the studies of Diva Benevides Pinho, Rui Namorado, and Paul Singer.It aims to demonstrate how the State, through sectorspecific public policies, has historically employed cooperativism as a mechanism for introducing capitalism into rural areas, thereby exacerbating long-standing social inequalities. Nevertheless, this is not the only possible form of cooperation in rural settings. Social movements continue to uphold popular cooperativism, rooted in the principles of the solidarity economy. Because they challenge the prevailing economic system and the concentration of land ownership, these initiatives receive limited institutional support and face both economic and legal obstacles.However, the law has the potential to transform this scenario—provided it aligns itself with social realities and contributes to the development of effective and democratic solutions to distributive conflicts in rural regions.