Teia dos povos: agroecological cosmopolitical strategies in the formation of a network of autonomies in southern Bahia

Abstract

Teia dos Povos is a coalition that brings together peasants, indigenous population, quilombolas, fishermen/women, people from terreiros and other groups living in the southern area of Bahia. They are linked by common initiatives, initially around agroecology and, later, alliances in the defense of community territories. Based on ethnographic elements and the understanding of Teia as a “popular think tank”, the article presents a discussion about the actions and discussions that took place within this network, considering its affinity with the ideals of Latin American autonomous movements. It aims to understand how certain concepts and ideals of “autonomy” that emerged in countries like Mexico operate in the Brazilian reality, with its scope and limits. At the same time, it demonstrates how the intellectual environment of Teia dos Povos is fruitful for the emergence of original ontological-political conceptions, from reflections on agroecology, the meeting of Afro and indigenous peoples in the region and other elements.