“Valley of hope”: Discursive construction of the legitimacy of lithium exploration in the Vale do Jequitinhonha

Abstract

This article seeks to answer the research question: How has the legitimacy of lithium mining in the Vale do Jequitinhonha been discursively constructed? In this sense, the aim of the text is to understand how lithium extraction in the region has been legitimized through the meanings attached to the words “development,” “hope,” and “green.” The study adopts a qualitative and descriptive approach, drawing on Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis as its methodological foundation. The research examined 33 texts and 35 Instagram posts, highlighting the terms “development,” “hope,” and “green,” as well as their relations with other words. The results show that lithium mining in the Vale do Jequitinhonha has been promoted as an opportunity for economic development capable of transforming a historically poor region into a hub of progress. This discourse, sustained by the Minas Gerais state government and mining companies, emphasizes job creation and the attraction of investments. However, the rhetoric of “development” often benefits investors while contributing to environmental degradation and the erosion of traditional ways of life. The dominant discourse omits these issues and favors short-term economic interests. This study contributes to the debate by analyzing the lithium mining chain in the Vale do Jequitinhonha, highlighting the construction of a discourse that legitimizes these practices.