The Brazilian Amazon is a dangerous place for social activists. At least 490 were murdered between 2006 and 2019 in the 772 municipalities of the Brazilian Amazon region. The murders are specifically targeted at those who defend land rights, the environment, and the livelihoods of local communities. The ongoing violence against social activists in the Amazon region of Brazil is causing increasing concern among civil society, political circles, and international organizations. The causes and mechanisms of this violence are closely linked to the degree of deforestation.
In the tenth TraCe Policy Brief, authors Jonas Wolff, Juan Albarracín, and Rodrigo Moura Karolczak argue that this violence originates from criminal-political networks that demonstrate their strongly territorialized character through the practice of dispossession of local communities. Violence is used to protect illegal profits and the local authoritiarian order. These networks and their violent practices pose a major threat to local civil society spaces, democratic participation, and environmental protection. To illustrate these connections and practices, the authors use concrete case studies such as the community of Altamira and the murder of activist Bartolomeu Morais da Silva. Finally, the authors present specific policy recommendations for governments, international, and civil society actors.
This TraCe Policy Brief summarizes findings from a comprehensive study published in the Journal of Peace Research by the authors. The English-language policy brief is available for download (PDF).
Jonas Wolff is professor for political science with a focus on Latin America at Goethe University Frankfurt and PRIF. At TraCe, he is Principal Investigator, Member of Directorate and Co-Speaker. He contributes to the research area Forms: 1.1 Findings on the Forms, Causes and Consequences of Political Violence.
Juan Albarracín Dierolf is Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) and was Visiting Fellow at TraCe in June and July 2024.