Rural development in Alagoas: nuances of the agrarian question in Alagoas from a historical perspective

Abstract

The agrarian development across territories is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Therefore, this research describes the nuances of the agrarian question that historically characterize the state of Alagoas, Brazil, contextualizing the evolutionary dynamics of the rural territory from social, economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions, essentially based on sugarcane cultivation. To this end, we present the three major historical periods that marked Alagoas' rural development: the colonial period, characterized by the occupation of the territory, the introduction of sugarcane, and the establishment of socio-productive dynamics; the period of modernization of the sugar-alcohol sector through agro-industrialization, the reformulation of production techniques, and the insertion of new social dynamics; and the contemporary period, marked by crises in the sugar-energy sector and the emergence of opportunities for agrarian reform movements. Finally, we conclude by showing the historical dualities of the rural environment in Alagoas and their impacts on the agrarian structure and the socioeconomic context of the state in contemporary times, highlighting the importance of studies on rural history.