Quilombo da Caçandoca: desafios da (re)construção

Abstract

This doctoral thesis reports the field research carried out between 2006 and 2009, in the Caçandoca district in Ubatuba, a town located in the northern part of Sao Paulo state. Its residents were acknowledged by the proper organs as quilombo s community descendants . Thus, this study deals with the challenges faced by the Caçandoca dwellers in order to rebuild their quilombo. One of the main points of this study is to ascertain how the Cançandoca residents live and how they are able to provide themselves food, education, medical care, etc. Besides, it goes into explaining how they take part in the local governmental institutions. Little by little during the course of the study, the problem relating to the research arose, from the empirical observation, conducted interviews with the residents and bibliographic debate concerning popular undertaking and alternate development. Therefore, the data and information provided herein try to prove that capital is present in Caçandoca even though it seems not to be. Supported by the concepts of Amartya Sen about the agency, I analyze the present and missing enabling conditions in the Caçandoca district without losing sight of the overall purpose and without missing the point which is to rebuild the Caçandoca s Quilombo. Among the misleading issues, I can mention the impacts of the conflicts concerning the residents self-recognition as quilombolas and the considerable stress relating to the social function of the land