The Case of the Enfoc/Contag, a Trade Union School in Brazil: Systematisation in Process

The article discusses the systematisation of the practice of political and trade union training of the Enfoc: Escola Nacional de Formação Político Sindical; of the Contag: Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores na Agricultura [National School for Political and Trade Union Training of the National Confederation of Workers in Agriculture]. These institutions have their headquarters in Brasília, Brazil, and are part of the MSTTR: Movimento Sindical dos Trabalhadores e Trabalhadoras Rurais [Trade Union Movement of Rural Workers]. The object investigated is the systematisation process of the political and trade union training of the Enfoc/Contag in the national and regional courses held during the 2006-2009 period. In order to meet the aim of presenting 'the case', and reflections on the theoretical-methodological, ethical-political and pedagogical processes in which systematisation can involve the subjects it gathers, and which it can launch onto them, the article initially presents, in a summarised manner, information on the object of reflection. It spells out the concept of systematisation used and also presents “theoretical reasons” which show that this kind of investigation: attached to social practices and performed collectively, with the intention of producing knowledge and learning from and for practices, and which flows into a subjectivation process, can lead to reflections that actually surpass the limits of systematised practices. It provides elements for reflections on this subjectivation process which allows the subjects to criticise what has been experienced, gives them freedom to reorient their ways of being in the world (“being-oneself”, “being-together”, “being-relationship”), and submit their political practices to a reflective surveillance that will keep them moving.