Territorial Reconfigurations and Development in Mato Grosso from 1930 onwards.

Abstract

This text analyzes the territorial reconfigurations and development of the state of Mato Grosso from the 1930s onwards, highlighting the role of state policies for the occupation, integration, and expansion of agricultural frontiers. A historical-structural and qualitative approach is adopted, based on bibliographic and documentary sources, to understand how the territory of Mato Grosso was shaped by political, economic, and social actions. The research identifies three major moments: the interiorization and opening of communication routes in the first decades of the 20th century; the intensification of occupation during the military regime, driven by programs such as the National Integration Plan (PIN) and PROTERRA; and, from the 1980s onwards, the consolidation of agribusiness and medium-sized cities as new regional centers. The study shows that road infrastructure and colonization policies were decisive in transforming Mato Grosso into one of the main agro-exporting centers of the country, at the cost of increasing land concentration, deforestation, and socioeconomic inequalities. Urbanization linked to agribusiness has generated economic prosperity, but has maintained regional asymmetries and institutional fragility. It is concluded that the development of Mato Grosso expresses a structural paradox: a globally competitive territory, yet socially unequal and environmentally vulnerable. The text proposes strengthening territorial governance and incorporating sustainability as a central axis of public policies, aiming for a more balanced and inclusive development model.