Political Organization of Space and Agricultural and Rural Land Use

Political Organization of Space

Territorial Dimensions of Politics

The Concept of Territoriality

Brazil has 26 states, each of which is self governing and responsible for their own finances, including taxes (although the federal government can also administer taxes). The person leading the executive branch is called the Governor, and each governor must run for their position every four years. Brazil has 28 different recognized political groups, although not all of them are usually elected. The federal government is centered in Brazilia as well as a few other cities, each of which have a regional administer, and are, as a whole, represented by a governor.

Photo Source: https://classes.lt.unt.edu/Fall_2010/CECS_5420_020/rde0038/Assign5/reg.gif

The Significance of Boundaries

Evolution of the Contemporary Political Pattern

The Nation State Concept

Brazil is considered to be a nation state. While many different lifestyles are all within Brazil, there is a general consensus that there is a defined feeling of an overall general culture (Brazilian Culture can be found on the Population and Culture page). This is a mixture of Portuguese (the original settlers), African (because of Brazil's background in slavery) and native culture.

Colonialism and Imperialism

Brazil originated as a colony, populated by the Portuguese, who were in search of goods and a way help their impoverished country. They found sugar, which encouraged the African slave trade significantly. Natives were also sometimes used as slaves, but this did not work well, because they were able to flee. Because of the large expanse of water between Portugal and what is now Brazil, the colony quickly became self sustained. Dom Pedro, the son of Portugal's prince, was sent to oversee the colony in 1821, but when the king visited the colony several years later, Pedro declared the colony's independence.

Brazil has struggled to maintain a democracy, and has great political instability. In the late 19th century, their leader left the country, and the government was overruled by coffee plantation owners until the worldwide depression. From then on, they switched to a variety of governments and leaders, until 1989, when they elected a corrupted president. Since then, however, Brazil has been substantially more stable.

Federal and Unitary States

Brazil has 26 federal, relatively self sustaining states (more information can be found under The Concept of Territoriality). Elections are held for state capitals and for certain cities, and the federal government is not involved in this. However, in the past, Brazil has had trouble moving away from a very centralized government, and until recently was not willing to hand out power to other states, or hold elections.

Challenges to the Inherited Political Territorial Arrangements

The Changing Nature of Sovereignty

The government of Brazil has done a poor job of promoting sovereignty, and much of their country is in the hands of non-citizens. Foreign investments are common, which has led to a large, but poorly structured economy that changes rapidly due to booms in specific exports.

Fragmentation, Unification, and Alliances

Brazil is a unified country, and the entire country is represented by the government. They are allied with many countries, but not one in particular. Countries that they are most often associated with include:

The United States
Canada
China
India
All of the members of Mercosur (including Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela)
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador
Russia

Spatial Relationships Between Political Patterns and Patterns of Ethnicity, Economy, and Environment

Brazil's politics are definitely influenced by race. People with black skin are less likely to win elections for office, and during the last election only 8% of the winners were black, although this may be due to unequal education and wealth. On average, black Brazilians receive 33% less in average wages, and are the victims of 69% of homicides.

Electoral Geography

When voting for representation in the senate, each state is represented equally with the same number of elected representatives. Gerrymandering has not been reported in Brazil since the 1960s, when their government was quite corrupt anyway. Each person between the ages of 18 and 70 are required to vote, and each vote is worth the same amount. Naturally, larger areas like Sao Paulo will be better represented due to higher population.

A presidential campaign in 2010:

Photo Source: http://www.demotix.com/photo/1537309/brazils-president-roussef-campaigns-reelection-haddad-rally

Agricultural and Rural Land Use

Development and Diffusion of Agriculture

Neolithic Agricultural Revolution

The Neolithic Transition began in South America around 7,500 B.C.E. The main crops that were planted included potatoes, peanuts, maize, and cassava. The slash and burn technique was used to clear land for the farming of these plants. Hunting and gathering was still common at this time, however, and most natives did not truly complete any sort of transition. They continued their way of life until Europeans arrived, and even now there is reported to be over 60 uncontacted tribes in Brazil, many of which still probably do not use very much agriculture. Europeans, upon arrival, already knew of agriculture and were long past it's discovery.

The Second Agricultural Revolution

Brazil's agricultural output has been increasing steadily since the arrival of the Portuguese in the 1500s. Food was considered a valuable resource to the Portuguese, and Brazil has been a mass exporter of coffee and sugar cane.

Major Agricultural Production Regions

Agricultural Systems Associated with Major Bio-Climatic Zones

Brazil's Cerrado, located in the southern and central portions of the country, have the highest agricultural output due to the amount of rainfall and long growing season. The cattle industry is also very high here. For further information, this report is very helpful:

http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/295624/wrs013d_1_.pdf

Variations Within Major Zones and Effects of Market

The Cerrado of Brazil has been put to use, and is where the majority of farming occurs. The Amazon Rainforest, and the Sertao are available for use, and are a huge asset for years to come. Farming still tends to revolve around southern Brazil where the population is so much more dense and the more fertile soil of the Cerrado is located. And while huge companies are more efficient, small farms help employment rates. Most goods are grown in the south because exportation is then easier, and farmers now have the technology to farm the savanna soils, which have higher nutrient levels. Brazil's market is much better because of this, and the country has become one of the largest exporters of food in the world.

Source for Photos: http://www.economist.com/node/16886442

Linkages and Flows Among Regions of Food Production and Consumption

While Brazil has huge potential, the country is also becoming limited by growing consumption rates as Brazil begins to have more of a middle class. Major farms are located in the South, where the majority of the population resides, and this is obviously both because of easy exportation and higher in-country demand.

Rural Land Use and Settlement Patterns

Settlement Patterns Associated with Major Agriculture Types

Settlement in Brazil has been focused in the south for several reasons. While the northern area was actually the first place settled, this was due to the more abundant goods and easy soil access. The cerradoes were not farmed, but used sparingly for the light traffic to the south. Then gold and diamonds were found in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and plantation owners moved south in search of wealth. Beautiful cities were constructed, roads south were built, and the central government was eventually transferred to Rio de Janeiro in 1729. Wealth was also attracting immigrants from Europe, and coffee plantations brought even more money to the then-colony.

Modern Commercial Agriculture: The Third Agricultural Revolution

The Green Revolution and the Beginning of the Biotechnologic Revolution

Brazil is currently in the middle of it's green revolution. Monoculture is becoming quite popular, because it is so good for the global economy. The environment, however, is taking a hit. Pollution is growing rapidly, and many more chemicals and pesticides must be used. The Cerrado is loosing much of its biodiversity due to growing only one thing in a particular area, and much of the food being produced does not stay within the country.

Characteristics of the Third Agricultural Revolution

Monoculture, or the planting of only one type of crop year after year, has defined the third agricultural revolution. With this, many chemicals and pesticides must be used to make sure that the crop will grow efficiently. It makes profits as high as possible, and can sometimes lead to higher production rates. The disadvantages of this are that if the crop is not protected from a particular disease or insect, it can be completely destroyed, and that the soil looses much of its nutrients.

Diffusion of Industrial Agriculture

Agriculture occurs in the southern and central parts of Brazil, because this is where the majority of the population, and where the Cerrado, is located. This means that a larger work force is available, that exports are easier to manage, and that the food is closer to where the demand is.

Future Food Supplies and Environmental Impacts of Agriculture

Brazil is currently using very little of its agricultural land, about 12% in 2010. The country also has a huge freshwater supply, about 1/3 of all the freshwater in the world. In this way, it is predicted to become an agricultural superpower in certain products in the years to come. However, the use of land for agriculture ultimately means that the more farming that occurs, the more biodiversity will be lost.