Christ in the Plantationocene: Land, Labor, and People’s Movements in El Salvador

This paper explores the intersection of labor and the environment in the geography of the plantation and cooperative efforts that have sought to resist and transform it. Specifically, it considers the constructive role that liberative visions of Christ have played in people’s movements for land reform in El Salvador, especially in the late 20th century. These efforts are rooted in forms of solidarity between workers, faith communities, and the land. Further, I propose that the witness of these traditions can serve to cultivate deep solidarity with professional class communities in North America, as it provides systemic understanding of issues of migration and farm labor, and articulates alternative constructive visions of cooperatively working and dwelling with the land.