Interfaces and social mediation: Disputes over land regularization in the Upper Uruguay at the beginning of the 21st century (Misiones, Argentina)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47456/geo.v6i43.52233

Keywords:

interfaces, social mediation, land regularization

Abstract

This research analyzes the dynamics of social mediation observed at the institutional interface between an organization of land-owning families and the provincial state administration in the Upper Uruguay River basin, Misiones Province (Argentina) during the early 21st century. Adopting a qualitative-ethnographic approach based on primary sources (participant observation, semi-structured interviews) and secondary data (academic literature, public documents, etc.) the study reconstructs various significant “place-events” within the process. Among the main findings, it is evident that the land regularization process: a) constitutes a field of social mediation between landholders and the state (statalness), where collective agency and technical-political capacity of the landholders prove crucial for sustaining the demand and influencing the state agenda; and b) the demand for regularization exhibits the reproduction of  limitations and contradictions of a fragmented and bureaucratic state, which hinders the crystallization of comprehensive processes for land access.

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Author Biographies

  • Laura Andrea Kostlin, Research Secretariat of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the National University of Misiones (FHyCS-UNaM)

    Laura Andrea Kostlin. PhD in Human and Social Sciences (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, National University of Misiones), Master’s in Social Anthropology (Social Anthropology Graduate Program-National University of Misiones), and Bachelor’s in Social Anthropology (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, National University of Misiones). She serves as an Assistant Researcher at the Research Secretariat (FHyCS-UNaM), where she is the Director of the Thematic Project Area (16/H2276-PI) "Associative strategies for marketing and food sovereignty in Misiones" and Co-director of the Project (16/H2700-PI) "Community strategies and food management in low-income neighborhoods of Posadas, Misiones: socio-territorial and organizational characterization of soup kitchens and community centers, and their contribution to food security and sovereignty." Additionally, she is an Adjunct Professor for the courses Socioeconomic Development, Sociological Theory, Social Economy and Local Development, and Professional Orientation. At the graduate level, she is a member of the Academic Committee and the teaching staff of the Master’s in Rural Development (National University of Misiones-National Institute of Agricultural Technology).

  • Ariel Oscar García, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)

    Ariel Oscar García holds a PhD in Geography (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of Buenos Aires), a Master's degree in Agrarian Social Studies (FLACSO), and a Bachelor's degree in Geography (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of Buenos Aires). He is an Independent Researcher at CONICET (National Scientific and Technical Research Council) at CEUR (Center for University Research), where he coordinates the Research Line on Regional Development and Social Economy (DRyES). He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Political Economy (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Buenos Aires) and Head of Practical Work in Economic Geography (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of Buenos Aires). He teaches postgraduate courses at various universities in Argentina (National University of San Martín, National University of Entre Ríos, National University of La Matanza, Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism, University of Buenos Aires, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, National University of Misiones) and Brazil (Federal Fluminense University, State University of Rio de Janeiro, and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro).

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Normativas

ARGENTINA. Ley n.º 26.737, de 2011. Régimen de protección al dominio nacional sobre la propiedad, posesión o tenencia de las tierras rurales.

MISIONES (Provincia). Ley XVI n.º 6 (antes Ley 480).

MISIONES (Provincia). Ley XVI n.º 77 (antes Ley 4093).

MISIONES (Provincia). Ley XVI n.º 121, de 11 de mayo de 2017. Modifica la Ley XVI n.º 100 (antes Ley 4502). Boletín Oficial, 12 jun. 2017.

Localización del área de estudio: Municipios de Mojón Grande y Florentino Ameghino, Departamento San Javier, Misiones (2025)

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Published

12-08-2026

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 43 (2026): Geografares Journal

Section

Papers Varia

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How to Cite

KOSTLIN, L. A.; GARCÍA, A. O. Interfaces and social mediation: Disputes over land regularization in the Upper Uruguay at the beginning of the 21st century (Misiones, Argentina). Geografares, v. 6, n. 43, p. e-52233, 12 Aug.2026.