“Decifra-me ou te devoro”: estado e exploração mineral na Bahia no contexto do modelo liberal periférico.

Abstract

This thesis addresses as a central theme the relationship between the State and the expansion of mineral exploration activity in Bahia, adopting as a chronological cut, in a more general scope, the period that opens in the early 2000s and, more specifically in Bahia, from 2007. The approach from the Expanded State, referenced in Gramsci, seeks to shed light on the relationship between instances linked to the Restricted State and civil society entities and organizations linked to the interests of the mineral sector in Bahia, identifying and analyzing the main agents and agencies that act in this process. In this way, firstly some elements are presented that highlight the expansion of mineral exploration in Bahia, associating this to the transformations in the national spheres and in the world market. Then, the eleven largest mining companies operating in Bahia are characterized and analyzed, highlighting elements related to the type of mineral explored, origin of capital, participation in mineral production in Bahia, among other elements that structure part of this sector in the state. Continuing, the main entities and organizations that operate in Bahia and are linked to the interests of the mineral exploration sector are characterized, both within the restricted State and civil society, highlighting the main leaders in these organizational structures. Joint initiatives of restricted State's instances and civil society are also presented and discussed, in the sense of building a positive discourse around mining and enabling the interests of groups linked to this segment based on State policies. Finally, some issues related to conflicts generated by enterprises linked to mineral exploration in Bahia are approached, opposing the construction of the discourse that presents mineral exploration as an important vector of development for the state.