Anthropology Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2015
Journal
Journal of Latin American Studies
Volume
47
Issue
4
First Page
781
Last Page
809
URL with Digital Object Identifier
DOI: 10.1017/S0022216X1500084X
Abstract
Anthropological analysis elucidates how discourses about agriculture in one North-east Brazilian community reflect relational roles of citizens and the state, the position of farmers in society, and the relationship of individuals to their work. In these discourses, farmers are positioned as moral, hard-working, autonomous citizens, justifying their participation in low-paying activities. The declining numbers of agricultural workers is explained as a result of individual laziness or government irresponsibility. In using these discourses to take stances publicly on agricultural issues, speakers assign responsibilities and moral status to agents. In constructing rural identities, such moral discourses emphasise the symbolic value of subsistence agriculture as its economic value declines.
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Citation of this paper:
KAREN PENNESI (2015). Constructing ‘Farmer’ and ‘State’ Identities in Moral Discourses about Semi-subsistence Agriculture in North-east Brazil. Journal of Latin American Studies, 47, pp 781-809 doi:10.1017/S0022216X1500084X
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Latin American Languages and Societies Commons, Latin American Studies Commons, Linguistic Anthropology Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Rural Sociology Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Work, Economy and Organizations Commons
Notes
This is the accepted manuscript published in the Journal of Latin American Studies. available at https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022216X1500084X