“Feridas abertas” : impactos e contradições dos crimes socioambientais provocados pelo neoextrativismo mineral brasileiro

Abstract

The study focuses on the disasters of Mariana and Brumadinho, in the state of Minas Gerais, caused by the collapse of iron ore tailings dams, and on the case of the neighborhoods in Maceió, Alagoas, affected by rock salt extraction carried out by the petrochemical company Braskem. The main objective is to analyze these socio-environmental crimes and understand how the partial invisibilization of their consequences contributes to the naturalization of rights violations, as well as to identify institutional and grassroots mechanisms of reparation and resistance. Methodologically, this is a qualitative and exploratory study grounded in the historical-dialectical materialist method, adopting the critical analysis of social, economic, and political realities from the perspective of socio-historical totality as its central analytical framework. The research is based on a bibliographic review and documentary analysis of journalistic media, information available on the websites of social movements related to the topic—particularly the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB)—and independent audiovisual productions. The findings reveal the class character of the Brazilian State, demonstrating that the insufficiency of inspection and reparation mechanisms stems from the structural contradictions of the State under neoliberal hegemony, favoring the interests of capital over the effective protection of socio-environmental rights. Furthermore, the study found that the structural weakening of the National Mining Agency (ANM), the erosion of social participation, and corporate unaccountability contribute to the persistence of rights violations affecting impacted populations.