Minério-Dependência em Congonhas-MG: especialização produtiva, vulnerabilidade territorial e psicosfera do desenvolvimento.

Abstract

Congonhas, Minas Gerais, has a historical connection to mining since the 18th century, as it is located in the Iron Quadrangle region. This research analyzed the role of the Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) in the municipality from 1940 to 2023, focusing on Congonhas' economic dependence on iron ore extraction. Among the main objectives are the characterization of the territorial specialization in mining, the analysis of the CSN's privatization process, the study of price fluctuations of ore during economic crises, and the evaluation of the economic development narrative promoted by the company. The research adopted explanatory and descriptive methods, combining documentary, bibliographic, and field analysis. The results reveal a profound economic dependence of Congonhas on mining, sustained by a psychosocial sphere created by CSN and the state, which marginalizes the local population and favors financial capital. This psychosocial sphere fosters a local aspiration for jobs in the mining sector, attracted by the higher wages offered by the industry.