Judicialized Environmental Conflicts in the State of Rio de Janeiro

In the process of social reproduction, society is confronted with different projects for the use and meaning of environmental resources, and there are disputes over incompatible interests in the environment. During these disputes, social actors try to legitimize their discourses and many collective actions can be taken - including lawsuits. This dissertation studies public civil lawsuits involving environmental conflicts in the state of Rio de Janeiro between 2008 and 2014. The main agents, causes and characteristics of judicialized environmental conflicts are identified, and the power relations involved in these conflicts are discussed. The patterns of conduct and solutions are investigated, as well as the bonds established during the dispute and the existence of an unequal incidence of environmental damage on a certain portion of the population.