Remnants of the contestado war in Taquaruçu: from the historical invisibility to social recognition as subjects of rights

Abstract

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/1807-1384.2014v11n2p204

Traditional and peasant populations in Brazil experience, historically, the invisibility and social exclusion, a process closely linked with the lack of recognition and appreciation of their social and cultural identity in society. This issue causes  enormous difficulties to an expressive segment of this population to access public policies and request citizenship rights. This article addresses a specific segment also affected by those issues, the remnants of the Contestado War in Santa Catarina. We propose analyzing the main factors that hinder the social reproduction of this people, the aspects involved in the (re) definition of their social identity and the search for recognition as subjects of rights in the contemporary society. It is based on results of a dissertation drawn from a case study done with typical families in their social groups, in order to realize a discussion on this complex social problem presented, highly important not only inside the study area, but also in the whole state of Santa Catarina. We have used qualitative research methods in the light of principles of ethnography, categories of history, sociology and agronomy, aiming at an interdisciplinary dialogue. Issues relating to the remnants of the Contestado War must be included in studies and research from various fields of knowledge as well as in the priorities of policies that focus on the local level, under penalty of continuing denying their existence as citizens and corroborating their social invisibility.