Potencialidade de criação de novos municípios em Roraima: estudo de caso da região do Apiaú

Abstract

The possibility of municipal emancipation represents for many residents of Brazilian districts a chance of social and economic development, strengthening local politics and encouraging investments in different areas. However, several authors discuss the real benefits of this practice, pointing out the constant Brazilian political decentralization and the existence of several small municipalities that depend on federal transfers to cover their expenses. Therefore, this dissertation aims to verify if the region of Apiaú, located in the municipality of Mucajaí/RR, has the social and economic conditions necessary to be characterized as an area of potential for municipal emancipation, analyzing the different geographic and administrative concepts that accompany the discussion, as well as the legal issues involved, seeking to understand the geohistorical context and the aspects that characterize the current local reality. The study begins with a bibliographical and documentary research, followed by observations of the object of study and field research, contacting the local population through the application of questionnaires and interviews. The results indicate that the region of Apiaú has a great potential for growth, with a strong farming based economy and structured urban centers, but not all the conditions foreseen by the most current bills are contemplated by the area and the simulation of the Municipal Feasibility Study points out problems that cannot be ignored, especially in the economic sphere. Thereby, it can be concluded that the Apiaú region cannot currently be considered as a potential for municipal emancipation, due to the lack of conditions considered essential for the transition to the municipality category, as well as for the economic and cultural influence that the loss of the area would represent for the municipality of Mucajaí. It is also worth mentioning the relevance of research on small Brazilian municipalities, especially due to the lack of existing information and the need for studies that help the understanding of the smaller urban centers reality. It is expected that the discussions presented by this dissertation will contribute to the formation of academic knowledge regarding small towns, instigating new studies in the state of Roraima and bringing visibility to the Apiaú region as an area of potential urban growth.