The nearest, the dearest

interactions between authorities and communities in the mobilization for reparations after the mining disaster in the doce river

Abstract

https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-8966/2025/88722

This article examines the roles of emotions and time in analyzing interactions among actors involved in legal mobilization processes. Based on ethnographic research, it observes multiple instances of communication between social movements, communities, and justice system authorities, who are tasked with defending the rights of individuals affected by the 2015 mining dam collapse disaster in Brazil. The findings reveal how specific aspects of the legal framework become critical elements that influence the emotional mechanisms at play among actors, leading to both continuity and disruption in the law's mobilization process. The research shows that the introduction of legal disputes significantly impacts the nature and rhythm of mobilization. As a result, social movements begin to navigate the temporalities, frameworks, and strategies inherent in legal processes. This study offers valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between legal structures and social movements, emphasizing the complex ways in which legal contexts shape and are shaped by the emotional and temporal dimensions of mobilization efforts.