The meanings of rural community according to nature of community livelihood in Brazilian Amazonia

Os significados de comunidade rural segundo a natureza dos modos de vida das comunidades na Amazônia Brasileira

Les définitions de communauté rurale selon la nature des modes de vie des communautés en Amazonie brésilienne

Los significados de la comunidad rural según la naturaleza de los medios de subsistencia de la comunidad en la Amazonia brasileña

Abstract:

The paper discusses the meanings of rural community according to nature of community livelihood in Brazilian Amazonia. Specifically, the paper stresses on the concept of community as a crucial aspect of the nature of diversity. The aim is to point out how development programmes interact and impact upon community's livelihoods without to take into account the meaning of rural communities they assume. The research data was gathered from four focus group in the municipalities of Concórdia do Pará, São Domingos do Capim, Irituia and Mãe do Rio, in Pará State. The paper shows that the understanding of rural community is a result of cultural, social and political construction and intrinsically linked to nature of community livelihood.

Key words:
community; rural community; community livelihood