Brasiguaio Identities
An outcome of the pursuit of land across the Brazilian and Paraguayan shared border region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31273/eirj.v5i1.205Keywords:
migration, borders, transnationalism, Brazil, Paraguay, Brasiguaios, migración, fronteras, transnacionalismo, BrasiguayosAbstract
The movement of people between places is far from being a new or isolated phenomenon and is happening more often than before. This is also the case for individuals who moved from Brazil and Paraguay. Based on the existing literature as well as on data gathered in the landless camp Antônio Irmão, also known locally as the ‘Brasiguaios landless camp’ in Itaquiraí in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, this article explains how their search for a piece of land in either Brazil and Paraguay influenced the formation of the Brasiguaios identities. First, I briefly approach the foundation of transnationalism scholarship, which guided my research. Next, I demonstrate how land policies in Brazil and Paraguay, aimed at developing their respective border regions, played a role in the migration of Brazilians to Paraguayan and then the return of a number of them to Brazil. Last, I share the narrative of individuals in the Brasiguaio landless camp in the pursuit of land in either country. At the core of my argument is that the Brasiguaio identities of this landless group result from their pursuit of land rather than from migration processes.
Resumen en Español
El movimiento de personas entre lugares está lejos de ser un fenómeno nuevo o aislado y está ocurriendo con más frecuencia que antes. Este también es el caso de las personas que se mudaron de Brasil a Paraguay. Basando-se en la literatura existente, así como datos recopilados en el campamento de los sin tierra Antônio Irmão, también conocido localmente como el “campamento de los Brasiguaios” en Itaquiraí en el estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, este artículo explica cómo su búsqueda por un pedazo de tierra en Brasil o Paraguay influyó en la formación de sus identidades Brasiguaias. Primero, abordo brevemente al campo de estudios del transnacionalismo, que ha guiado mi investigación. Después, demuestro cómo las políticas agrarias en Brasil y Paraguay, buscando desarrollar sus respectivas regiones fronterizas, desempeñaron un papel en la migración de los brasileños a Paraguay y en el regreso de muchos de ellos a Brasil. Finalmente, comparto la narrativa de individuos en el campamento de los Brasiguaios que han buscado un pedazo de tierras en uno de los países. Mi argumento central es que las identidades Brasiguaias de los miembros de este grupo resultan de su búsqueda por un pedazo de tierra y no meramente por los procesos migratorios.
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