Direitos humanos a partir de baixo: a trajetória de luta e resistência no relato dos atingidos por barragens

Abstract

This thesis examines, from a historical-dialectical perspective, the trajectory of struggle and resistance of those affected by dams, understanding these subjects as protagonists in the construction of human rights “from below.” The research is based on the observation that the expansion of large hydroelectric projects in Brazil, although justified by economic development interests, has produced serious socio-environmental violations, forced displacement, and the destruction of traditional communities. The study analyzes how these impacts have driven the formation of social movements, whose collective action is part of the struggle for recognition, reparation, and the guarantee of fundamental rights. The qualitative research is based on the analysis of legal documents, institutional reports, historical records, and interviews with leaders and members of affected communities. Dialogue with critical references – especially Marxist and decolonial authors – allows us to understand the phenomenon in its structural and conjunctural dimensions, highlighting the asymmetry of power between the state, capital, and affected populations. This approach reveals that resistance strategies go beyond the legal field, articulating social mobilization, direct actions, and the construction of counter-hegemonic narratives that question the current development model. The thesis also problematizes the role of public policies and available legal instruments, pointing out the limits and possibilities of their use by movements. It is identified that, although Brazilian legislation recognizes the rights of affected communities, its effectiveness depends on the capacity for organization and social pressure, with recurring practices of invisibilization and bureaucratization that delay or prevent reparations. The results point to the centrality of territorial struggle and identity affirmation as axes of resistance. Those affected, by demanding not only material compensation but also the preservation of ways of life, knowledge, and community ties, construct an expanded sense of human rights, rooted in the concrete experience and historical demands of marginalized groups. The research concludes that this production of rights “from below” puts pressure on institutional logic, showing that the realization of fundamental rights does not result exclusively from state concessions, but emerges from collective processes of confrontation and social construction.