Trucker drivers’ strike and supply crisis in Brazil: infrastructure, neoliberalism and the dismantling of the social state

Abstract

This paper analyzes the current infrastructure of cargo transportation in Brazil, based on the context of the truck drivers' strike / lockout that took place in 2018 and the crisis of provision and supply that was introduced. The Brazilian population experienced a situation of chaos with truck stoppages, and the article sought to portray the main events and their reflections for citizens during and after the demonstrations, as well as the response given by the Temer government. With the impeachment of President Dilma, there is a dismantling of the democratic project and the social state, with the government aligned with the interests of financial capital. The research problem was, in this sense, to verify if the transport infrastructure is consistent with the territorial and geographical dimensions of Brazil. Likewise, it was sought to assess the responses given by the presidency to the crisis experienced in the country, especially in relation to cuts in investments in social programs. The research methodology adopted in the work was the hypothetical-deductive method, where we started from the hypothesis that the transport infrastructure is not sufficient and adequate. The research technique used was exploratory, based on bibliographical surveys and data and map analysis.