Letters of extractive capitalism and corporate uses of writing

As cartas do capitalismo extrativo e os usos empresariais da escrita

The present article looks at public letter writing as one of the strategies employed by certain agents of extractive capitalism to reinforce discourses of sustainability and distance themselves from the authoritarian anti-environmentalism of the Brazilian federal government during the Bolsonaro regime (2019-2022). The research behind this article was conducted through a review of the literature surrounding debates evoking the analytical categories of environmentalization, agribusiness/ neo-extractivism, and reputational capital, as well as the social uses of writing. Secondary sources were also consulted, such as the websites of selected companies and economic groups, news clippings, and media outlets. A central source of employed in our analysis, given the specificity of our work, were the letters indirectly addressed through public media to the government of President Jair Bolsonaro. We conclude that these letters seek to legitimize the way in which business agents attempt to organize the world, producing a truth proven by their words. This, in turn, functions as an alarm system, indicating the need to uncover the political, socio-cultural, and territorial implications contained in these letters.

Keywords:
Neo-extractivism; Agribusiness; Environmentalization; Written Expression; Reputational Capital