Aquiri, The 'River of Caimans': New Readings Between the History of Acre and the Partido dos Trabalhadores
Social Movements; Partido dos Trabalhadores; Acre; Amazon; Conflicts.
This research investigates the complex relationship between the mobilizations of the forest peoples and the trajectory of the Partido dos Trabalhadores(PT) in Acre between the 1980s and 2010s. Through a qualitative approach that combines the analysis of electoral data, a literature review, and the triangulation of narratives from key actors with different paths within the party - the study analyzes how the PT"s rise was grounded in the socio-environmental struggle of rubber tappers, materialized in the Empates (standoffs) and the proposal of Extractive Reserves (RESEX). The dissertation examines the 16 years of PT hegemony in the state and then investigates the intra- and inter-regional factors that led to its decline, such as a potential distancing from its base, tensions between governability and the agendas of social movements, and the rise of conservative forces, culminating in the 2016 coup. By exploring the tensions between memories, projects, and contradictions, this work aims to unravel the dynamics of class struggle in the Amazon and the challenges of sustaining a popular political project in a context of power reconfiguration.