Militancy in the head, human rights in the heart and the feet on the system: the social place of the popular lawyer

Abstract

This article describes the role of the state in land conflicts in Brazil, perceived by one specific social actor, the popular lawyer. The democratization of the human rights’ movement in Brazil resulted in the differentiation of the victims in distinct marginalized social groups and the militants’ professionalization. The popular lawyer, one of the actors of the human rights’ movement, defends landless people involved in land conflicts. Within the justice system the land conflict takes place in three different stages: police investigation, penal case and civil action. In each one of these stages the administration of the conflict follows a specific logic. The traditional attitude of the state actors towards the landless people is partial. Nevertheless, the participation of the popular lawyer in the inner judicial conflict represents the beginning of the integration of the landless population’s interests in the justice system.