Resumo

This paper analyzes the peculiarities of applying Stakeholder Theory when the context is socio-environmental disasters caused by companies, notably the relations between the mining company Vale S.A., the public power and the stakeholders involved in the Environmental tragedy of the rupture of the Córrego do Feijão Dam, in Brumadinho, in January 2019. It is a qualitative analysis of primary and secondary data that describe the relations between the firm, public power and stakeholders in the post-tragedy, in search of a solution for the problems caused by the rupture.

The research question is “Are the specificities of the context of socio-environmental problems being taken into account in the post-tragedy repair actions, in the case of the rupture of the Córrego do Feijão dam?” The objective of the investigation is to verify how the relations between stakeholders are structured, and how the nature and organization of these relations have influenced the search for solutions to the problems arising from the disaster.

In addition to Stakeholder Theory and its relation to sustainability, the theoretical framework involves concepts from Human Ecology, such as management of common goods, wicked problems and the survival of socio-environmental systems. Theoretical propositions that involve new paradigms for corporate social responsibility were also studied, seeking new possible paths.

After reviewing literature on Stakeholder Theory, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, a survey of articles involving the Córrego do Feijão tragedy, its antecedents and the post-tragedy was carried out. The author adopted a transdisciplinary perspective to apply concepts from different areas of knowledge to analyze the relations between stakeholders, among themselves and with the socio-environmental problem. Then, through non-participant observation, reports from the affected population were collected during events and analyzed in light of the theoretical foundation.

The analysis shows that the perspective adopted in the search for solutions to the problems arising from the rupture of the Córrego do Feijão dam is as traditional as possible, with the Government and public institutions positioning the company at the center and the stakeholders around it, and attributing to the firm the design of actions, establishment of goals and even the ability to attest their achievement. This has caused dissatisfaction and revictimization of the affected population, who denounce not being heard in the decisions that have been taken.

It is necessary to adopt a different perspective when it comes to seeking solutions for socio-environmental problems involving companies. Public power and companies must understand that theories and methods adopted to deal with business problems cannot be applied without adaptation when the context involves the environment and populations in the surroundings. It is necessary to adopt listening processes and participatory decision making, otherwise aggravate problems created by socio-environmental disasters, producing scenarios of suffering and revictimization of the affected population

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