Domination and Servitude in Contemporary Rural Brazil : Reflections on Rural Migrant « Enslaved Labour »
This paper aims to analyse the case of rural migrant « enslaved labour » which appeared in Brazil in the 1960’s. Based on the discourses of rural workers liberated from a situation of « enslaved labour », the article first presents the different aspects which characterize the relations of domination pertinent to rural migrant « enslaved labour » : deceit, economic debt and depersonalization. Then, the case of rural migrant « enslaved labour » is compared with traditional forms of domination in rural Brazil in order to contextualize the specificity and historicity of « enslaved labour ». The second part of this paper argues that « enslaved labour » constitute a « mode of exploitation » and a relationship of servitude, which includes excess of domination extending beyond the relationship of economic debt and implying the questions of rights and of symbolic citizenship. Finally, the reflection is broadened to the global context of the capitalist economy, showing how further analyzing rural migrant « enslaved labour » could contribute to the study on contemporary slavery.