Grassroots Movements and Environmental Knowledge Systems: A Political Ecology Perspective On Education

(1) * Adinda Putri Jamal Mail (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
(2) Bambang Wahyu Nugroho Mail (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
(3) Rasya Raditya Hariana Mail (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
*corresponding author

Abstract


This article analyzes agroecological education in the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST) as a political-ecological knowledge system that plays a role in the production of collective identity, ecological capacity, and the articulation of agrarian demands. Based on a literature review and analysis of secondary documents, this study uses a political ecology perspective to examine how the movement's education integrates three dimensions: (1) a critical curriculum that challenges narratives of agribusiness and technocratic modernization, (2) a praxis-based pedagogy grounded in fieldwork that combines empirical validation and intergenerational knowledge transmission, and (3) the formation of political-ecological subjects through rituals, cadre courses, and the internalization of collective values. The results show that the integration of these three dimensions enables MST schools to function not only as technical educational institutions, but also as arenas of political and ecological reproduction that strengthen the movement's position in contemporary agrarian conflicts. These findings support the argument that agroecology in the context of social movements is moving towards structural transformation, transcending technocratic co-optation, and contributing to the expansion of the discourse on food sovereignty and policy recognition. This research enriches the literature on political ecology and agrarian movements by positioning education as a strategic instrument in the production of counter-knowledge systems and collective organizing. Further implications include the relevance of education.


Keywords


Agroecology; Agrarian Reform; Food Sovereignty; Knowledge Systems; Movement Education; Political Ecology

   

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31604/jim.v10i4.2026.2409-2423
      

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10.31604/jim.v10i4.2026.2409-2423 Abstract views : 0 | PDF views : 0

   

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.