Populist and capitalist frontiers in the Amazon: Diverging dynamics of a agrarian and land-use change (Brazil)

This dissertation examines the conditions and dynamics of cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon. The polarization of views on ranching in the Amazon is acute, mainly between environmentalist and development advocates, and appears to be led as much by ideological and social-environmental concerns as by evidence. This work undertakes an integrated assessment and comparison of frontiers and cattle ranching development in two portions of the Amazon with the aim of getting past the argumentative barriers about tropical deforestation and ranching by providing data and balanced analysis. The results indicate that the issue is far more nuanced than proponents of either polar view admit.; It argues that different frontier formations in the Brazilian Amazon are discernable as a result of public policy implementation. While populist frontiers have emerged in areas linked with colonization programs, capitalist frontiers emerged in territories occupied by corporate and other medium- and large-scale ranches. Once released, the triggers that motivated land occupation in the frontier areas gave rise to place-specific territorial dynamics resulting from interactions among population and investment flows, markets for cattle products, road development, and land appropriation. These dynamics, and subsequent public policy implemented in each frontier, defined a dependent pathway of frontier development; the emergent type in each case shaped its longer-term trajectory.; Diverse land-use trajectories take place in the frontier areas, as a result of smallholder social differentiation, and disparate access to economic assets and monetary income. No linear pattern of assets accumulation exists, and wealthier households have greater propensity to deforest independently of their production system. Furthermore, different types of cattle ranches co-exist in the frontiers, each type defined by their scale of operations, and systems of management, with varied profitability outcomes. The ranches obtaining larger profits often present a higher propensity to deforest for pasture formation.; The evidence and arguments presented in this work suggest that it is mistaken to either advocate or criticize cattle ranching in the Amazon as an homogeneous activity, and hence different types of cattle ranching need to be distinguish in order to inform policy interventions to support some cattle production types, and to disincentive others.