Industriais da Seca and the Politics of Drought in the Brazilian Northeast

This paper examines Antonio Callado’s critique of the social and political dynamics surrounding drought in Brazil’s Northeast, as highlighted in his 1959 chronicles for the newspaper Correio da Manhã, which exposed the Indústria da Seca—a network of large landowners and politicians who exploited drought relief efforts for personal and political gain. Callado argued that drought, often framed as a climatic issue, perpetuated inequality and reinforced power imbalances. Employing a historical-documentary methodology, this study draws on Callado’s chronicles and archival sources. Using Milton Santos’ theory of space, it explores how socio-political structures and resource control transformed drought into a tool of profit and domination. Celso Furtado’s developmental thought, particularly his advocacy of land reform and equitable resource distribution, informs the analysis. By synthesizing Callado, Santos and Furtado’s perspectives, this paper highlights drought as a reflection of entrenched inequalities and a contested site of power.