RevistaTOMO,SãoCristóvão,v.44,e23671,2025DOI:10.21669/tomo.v44.23671SpecialIssue-CoastalSqueeze:BeachesunderSocio-EconomicandEcologicalPressureE-ISSN:2318-9010/ISSN:1517-4549SpecialIssueSellingParadise:ABourdieusianAnalysisofGatedCondominiumDevelopmentintheEcologicalRouteoftheMiracles,Alagoas,BrazilMarinaSartore*1WandersonGomes*2AbstractTheEcologicalRouteoftheMiracles(REM)inAlagoas,Brazil,hasundergonerapidcoastaldevelopmentsince2015,drivenbyasurgeingatedcondominiums(GCs).UsingBourdieu’sconceptoftheeconomicfield,thisstudyanalyzesthesupplysideofrealestateproduction,examiningdevelopers’profiles,capital,andlegitimizingnarrativesexpressedonInstagram.Seventeenfirmsresponsiblefor65GCsweregroupedintopioneerspecialists,specialists,andestablishedbroad-basedcompanies.Patternsofspatialconcentration,capitalconversion,andcompetitionemerge.AlongitudinalanalysisofPodium’sInstagramposts(2015–2025)showshowtheREMisconstructedasaluxurious,exclusive,andinvestableparadise.Developersthusshapematerialandsymboliccontroloverbeachaccess,naturalizingsocialhierarchiesthroughnarrativesKeywordsofdreams,expertise,andprivilege.:BeachAccess;Paradise;GatedCondominium;Sociology;Tourism.*UniversidadeFederaldeSergipe.CenterforEducationandHumanSciences.DepartmentofSocialSciences.GraduatePro-graminSociology.SãoCristóvão.Sergipe.Brazil.E-mail:marinass@academico.ufs.brOrcid:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7935-4105CrediT:Conceptualization,Investigation,Visualization,Methodology,Writing.**UniversidadeFederaldeSergipe.GraduatePrograminSociology.SãoCristóvão.Sergipe.Brazil.E-mail:wandersonjfgo-mes@academico.ufs.brOrcid:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5788-0174CrediT:Conceptualization,Investigation,Metho-dology,Writing1IntroductionRotaEcológicadosMilagres)(REM,fromnowon)isa23-ki-TheEcologicalRouteoftheMiracles(lometerstretchofcoastlinesituatedinthestateofAlagoas,inBrazil’sNortheast.Thisregion,oftenreferredtoasthe“BrazilianCaribbean”ishometolight-bluewaters,crystal-clearnaturalpools,andpartoftheCoralCoastalEnvironmentalProtectionArea(APACC).LageFigure1:AnaturalpoolintheREM,thebeach,themunicipalitiesalongREMSource:PhotosofthenaturalpoolandLageBeachweretakenduringfieldworkinDecember2024.ThemunicipalitiesmapthwascreatedonGoogleEarthonJune9,2025.andSãoMigueldosMilagresPortodePedrasTheBraziliandemographiccensus(Brasil,2022)indicatesthatbetween2012and2022,thepo-pulationof,thetwomainmunicipalitiesalongtheREM,grewby10.27%and18.41%,respectively.Thisdemographicgrowthhasbeendrivenbyimprovementsinurbaninfrastructure,whichhavegraduallyattractedhigh-endamenitiessuchaschef-ledrestaurants,boutiqueinns,beachfrontresorts,andGatedCondominiums(GC,fromPortonowon).Localrealestateagentsnoteapost-2021realestateboomfueledbypandemic-drivendePedrasdemandfornature-proximatecoastalproperties(Klinke,2024).Astheformermayorof1,”wenowwitnesswhatrealestateobserved,“wheretenyearsagotherewasnothingagentsdescribeasa“miracle”,asillustratedinFigure2.This“miracle”beganin2015,andbyMarch2025,weidentified17buildersresponsiblefor65GC,eithercompletedorunderconstruction.Theirspatialdistributionrevealsaclearpreferenceforseaaccessandviews:26arebeachfront,20arewithin500metersofthebeach,andonly11are2.morethan500metersfromthebeach12Wemappedthe65GCthroughfieldwork(Dec2024)andonlineresearch(Mar2025).Dataweretabulated.TheexactlocationsofField-notesfromDecember2024.eightremainunknown.2MarinaSartore;WandersonGomesFigure2:The“Miracle”ofthearrivalofaGCportrayedbyareal-estateagentSource:Imageprovidedtotheauthorsbyalocalrealestateagent.Translationbytheauthors.Figure3:50GatedCondominiumsSpreadalongtheREMandtheir17BuildersSource:PreparedbytheauthorsonSeptember5,2025,usingGoogleMaps.GoogleMapscouldnotlocate15GCbyname.Colorfulpinsindicatethe17realestatebuilders.th3SellingParadiseFigure4:SixexamplesofGatedCondominiumsintheREMIntheleftcolumn,fromtoptobottom,theimagesdepictReservaAysú,Naay,Watal.Ontherightcolumn,fromtoptobottom:CasasSantorini,ItaPatacho,andNaluum.Source:GoogleImages.ThephotocombinationwasdonebytheauthorsusingPhotoScape.Alagoashaslongbeenmarkedbyhighlandconcentration,lowproductivedynamism,anddeepsocioeconomicinequalities(Brandão,2018;Figueiredo,2021).Sincetheseventies,stateactorshavepromotedtourismasastrategyforpovertyreduction(AraújoandSantos,2022).Fieldworkshowshowthisdiscourseresonateslocally:ayoungwaiternotedthatnewbarsandrestaurantshadexpandedincomeoptionspreviouslylimitedtofishing,churchactivities,andpublic-sectorjobs.Developersechothisnarrative.Forexample,one2022Instagrampostclaimedthat“tourism3.”promotionintheEcologicalRouteoftheMiraclesisresponsiblefortheregion’sdevelopmentStatedatareinforcesit:in2025,Alagoasreportedrecordtourismlevelsandidentifiedthesectorasakeyeconomicdriver(AgênciaAlagoas,2025).Tourism-driveneconomicdevelopmentinAlagoasacceleratedin2011withtheapprovalofStateLawNº.7,231,whichestablishedSpecialAreasofTouristInterest(AEIT)tosimultaneouslypro-motesustainabletourism,fosterlocalculture,andattractprivateinvestment(Alagoas,2011).Inpractice,however,fourteenyearslater,thetouristhubsneighboringtheREMcontinuetostruggletobalanceenvironmentalprotectionwitheconomicgrowth,facingtheconsequencesofpreda-torytourism(Gazetaweb,2025;G1AL,2024a).Topreventsimilaroutcomes,REM’ssocialagentshavepursuedthe“BlueFlag”certificationasasymbolofsustainabletourismsince2021(G1AL,4).Duringfieldwork,weobservedaseriesof“forsale”signsalongsideindicatorsofenviron-2024bmentallicensing,asillustratedinFigure5.34InformationinFigure248fromourdatasetofPodiumInstagramposts.ThePatachoBeachistheonlyBlueFlag-certifiedbeachinAlagoasandoneof38inBrazil.4MarinaSartore;WandersonGomesFigure5:“ForSale/Rent”SignsandEnvironmentalLicensesSource:Authors’compilationbasedonfieldresearchrecordsfromDecember2024.ScholarshaveexaminedthenegativeeffectsoftourismdevelopmentintheREM(Barbosa,2021),theresultingconflictsoveraccesstonaturalresources(Cruzetal.,2022,2023;MendonçaandAraújo,2021),andthesocialandenvironmentalpracticesofboutiqueinns(CamêloandAraújo,2018;Silva,2016;Carvalho,2017).Whilethesestudiesoffervaluableinsights,twogapsremain.First,sociologicalperspectivesarenotablyunderrepresented.Second,thereisalackofin-depthanalysisofthesocialagentsresponsiblefortheconstructionofgatedcondominiums.Thispaperaddressesthesetwogaps.Sociologically,itaimstocontributetodebatesonwhoclaimsandcontrolsbeachaccess,andthroughwhatnarratives,aligningwithOsbaldiston’s(2018)viewthatasociologicalunderstandingofthecoastlinerequiresanalyzinghowitisappropriated,repre-sented,andtransformedbydiversesocialactorsacrosshistoricalandspatialcontexts.Empirically,weemployBourdieu’sconceptofeconomicfield(1997b)asaheuristictool(Duval,2015)tostudythebuildersofGC.TherapidurbanconcentrationintheREMintensifiessocioeconomicandecologi-calpressuresassociatedwithcoastalsqueeze(Pontee,2013).Asbeachaccessbecomesincreasinglycontested,itiscrucialtostudythesocialagentswhoconstructthese‘paradisiacal’naturalspaces.Inadditiontothisintroduction,thepaperisstructuredintofoursections.Thefirstoutlinesourtheoreticalframework.ThesecondintroducestheGCdevelopersandoffersapreliminaryanaly-sisoftheirpositioningwithinthesubfieldofcoastalrealestatetourism.Thethirdexaminesthesociodicies,Instagramcontentdisseminatedbetween2015and2025byPodium(thepioneeringdeveloperintheregion)totracetheevolutionoftheorlegitimizingnarratives,producedbyGCdevelopers.Thefinalsectionpresentsourconcludingremarks.5SellingParadise2ABourdieusianApproachtoTheRemPhysically,theREMcomprisesasetofmunicipalitiesstretchingalonga23-kilometercoastline.Itisalsocomposedofsocialagentswhosestrugglesoverseaaccessandviewsareprojectedontothephysicalspacethroughrealestatedevelopments.AccordingtoBourdieu(2008),whenthephysicalpropertiesofspacecorrespondtothesocialhierarchiesofagentswithinthesocialspa-ce,areifiedsocialspaceemerges.ThisidearesonateswithresearchbyPinçonandPinçon-Char-lot(1988),whicharguesthattheoccupationofphysicalspacesreflectsthedistributionofsocialagentswithinthesocialspace.AlthoughBourdieudidnotdedicateanyspecificworktothestudyofcities,hiscolleagueWac-quant(2024)arguesthatthecitycanbeunderstoodasaspaceofintersectingfieldeffects.Inthissense,theREMconstitutesareifiedsocialspace,bringingtogetherintersectingfieldeffectsasnewsocialagentsfromdifferentsocialfieldsinteract.Afieldis“theanalyticalspacedefinedbytheinterdependenceoftheentitiesthatcomposeastruc-tureofpositionsamongwhichtherearepowerrelations”(HilgersandMangez,2015,p.5).Inthispaper,wefocusonthesocialagentsoftheeconomicfield,namely,realestateagents.BourdieuTheSocial(1997b,p.52)notesthat“theeconomicfieldisconstitutedbyasetofsubfieldscorrespondingtoStructuresoftheEconomywhatweordinarilyunderstandassectorsornicheswithinanindustry.”Similarly,in,heexplicitlycharacterizestheeconomicfieldas“acollectionofstructu-redmicrocosms”(2005,p.198).Hefurtherclarifiesthatsubfieldscanbesegmented;forexample,theaeronauticalindustryisdividedamongproducersofpassengeraircraft,militaryaircraft,andtouristaircraft(2005,p.58).Subfieldsrefractfielddisputesbutpossessparticularities,suchastheproduct,whichinourcaseiscoastalrealestatetourism.TheSocialStructuresoftheEconomyIn,Bourdieu(2005)analyzestherealestatemarketforhomeownership.Heidentifiesfourlevelsoffields:thefieldofpower,theeconomicfield(inabroadersense),thehousingfield(asasubfield),andthefieldofthefirm.Inthesectiontitled“TheSpecificLogicoftheFieldofProduction,”hearguesthat,ratherthanusingthenotionofsector,whichag-gregatescompetingfirmsasasingularagent,theconceptoffieldallowsustounderstandthedi-fferencesbetweenfirmsandtheobjectiverelationsofcomplementarityandrivalryamongthem,therebyofferingamorenuancedunderstandingofthelogicofcompetition.Inourinterpretation,Bourdieuusesthenotionoffieldinthissectionbothasaheuristictoolandtorefertothesupplysideofdevelopers.Thisdualapproachispreciselythefocusofourpaper:todelimittheeffectivesocialagentswithinarelationalspace(thesubfieldofcoastalrealestatetourism),usingtheideaoffield(Bourdieu,1997b)asaheuristictool(Duval,2015)toclarifytherelationsofcomplementarityandrivalrythatshapecompetitionoverseaaccessandviews.Thesocialandsymbolicstrugglesoccurbetweensocialagentswhoseindividualandcollectivetrajectories(habitus)providethemwithacertainvolumeandstructureofcapital,positioningthemwithinthefieldeithertoconserveorsubvertitsdominantlegitimacy.Thestruggleswithinthefieldaimtoimpose“adefinitionoflegitimaterecognition”(HilgersandMangez,2015,p.6)andreflectthat“thehistoryofthefieldisthehistoryoftheinternalandexternalstrugglesthatanimateit,thehistoryofthedistributionofthespecificcapitalandthevariationsofthiscapital”(HilgersandMangez,2015,p.6).6MarinaSartore;WandersonGomessociodiciesPositionswithinthefieldaremaintainedthroughlegitimizingnarratives,or(Bour-dieu,1998;Seidl,2017),whichjustifysocialinequalitiesbycrystallizingprinciplesofvisionanddivisionofthesocialworld,presentingitasauniversalandincontestableorder.Forexample,Shammas(2023)describesaSiliconValleybillionairewhojustifieshiswealth,evenwhileexploi-tingworkers,basedonrisk,innovation,andthesocialbenefitsheprovides.Thelogicissimilarinourcase.Althoughrealestatedeveloperscontributetolimitingbeachaccessforlocalpeople,thenarrativeofsaintsperformingeconomic“miracles,”suchasfosteringregionaldevelopment,persists,asexemplifiedbythewaiter’sremarksaboutnewjobopportunities.Anothernarrativeframesthe“miracle”asbringinginfrastructuresothateveryonecanenjoyaremoteparadise—al-beitexclusivelyasbeachfronthomeownersorshort-termrenters.5.”Thus,examiningsocialagentsmeansthatonecannot“tellthemiraclewithouttellingthesaintThisperspectiveiswellillustratedbystudiesofSaint-Tropez(BrunoandSalle,2018),Brazil’sPipaBeach(stateofRioGrandedoNorte,inthenortheast)(Loloum,2017;LoloumandAledo,2018),andMaceió(thecapitalofAlagoas,alsointhenortheast)(Sartore,Carvalho,andGomes,2025),whichdemonstratethatformsofbeachgrabbingdonotemergefromnaturalforces,butresultfromdeliberatestateinterventionandcoordinatedactionsbetweenpublicandprivateso-cialagents.Thepursuitofbuildingbeachfrontpropertiesconstitutesonekindofbeachgrabbing.Inthiscontext,sociologyprovidestoolstoobservethisphenomenonthroughthesourcesoflegitimacyofprivateproperty(Durkheim,1950)andtoexploresocialagents’lifetrajectories,aswellasthemeaningsanddesirestheyattachtoownership(Bourdieu,2000;CarruthersandAriovich,2004).However,inthecaseoftheREM,onedoesnotneedtopurchaseprivatepropertytogainaccesstoorviewsofthesea,sinceitisalsopossibletorentaproperty.Accessisthereforenotnecessarilytiedtoprivateowner-shipandisshapedbyhistorical,political,andculturalfactors(RibotandPeluso,2003).Inourtimeframe,from2015to2025,theREMexperiencedanincreaseinginbeachclosures.Thedeveloperswereresponsibleforthismovement,despitetheBrazilianConstitution(Brasil,1988)guaranteeingfreepublicaccesstobeaches.ThisparadoxreflectswhatKnierbeinandChristodou-lou(2025)describeasthepost-politicalbeach,wherefundamentalrightstonaturebecomedepo-liticizedandbarrierstopublicspacegrow.However,theabsenceoforganizedsocialmovementsdoesnotnecessarilyimplytheabsenceofstruggles.Inthispaper,wearguethatbeach-relateddisputescanalsobeapproachedthroughthelensofsymbolicstruggles.Symbolicstrugglesarecontestsovermeaningandtherecognitionofwhatisconsideredlegitimateinagivensocialspace.Thisperspectivehelpsexplainthepost-politicalbeachbyshowingthatbeachgrabbingisnotonlystructuredbutalsolegitimizedthroughsocialagents’sociodicies,whicheffectivelysuppressso-cialcontestationbyframing“exclusivebeachaccess”asauniversallyacceptedorder.3TheDevelopers:TheSupply-SideInRem’sCoastalEconomicFieldAlthoughweacknowledgethatfullygraspingthedynamicsofbeachgrabbinginREMbyprivatepropertiesrequiresarelationalanalysisconsideringothersocialagents,suchashotelsandinns,ouraimhereistoidentifywhichtypesofcapitalconditionthesocialstrugglesinthesubfieldof5“Totellthemiraclewithouttellingthesaint”isaliteraltranslationofaPortugueseidiomusedwhensomeonerecountsaneventoroutcomebutintentionallyleavesoutwhowasresponsibleforit.7SellingParadisecoastalrealestatetourism,consideringthecaseoftheREM.Thesecapitalslargelyrefractthoseof6seventeentherealestatesubfield,whichrefractsthelogicoftheeconomicfield.WecategorizeddevelopmentcompaniesthatarrivedinREMbetween2015andFebruary2025basedonsixtypesfinan-ofcapital.WewereinspiredbyBourdieu’stypesofcapitalin7,technological,legal,organizational,commercial,andsymboliccapital).Besides,wecial,culturaladdedthreeothertypesofcapitalthatemergedinductivelyfromourempiricalobservations.TheEconomicField(1997b)(Table1:TypesofCapital(Subfieldofcoastalreal-statetourisminREM)TypesofCapitalGeographicalcapitalCreation-EntrycapitalOwnershipcapitalOrganizatio-nalcapitalCommercialcapitalFinancialCapitalCategoriesMaceió;REM;anotherlocalityLocationoftheirheadquarters:before2000;between2000and2018,andafter2019Yearofcreation:COVID-19launchintheREM:IndividualsorPartners;Family;Joint-stockcompanybeforeCOVID-19;after;YearoftheirfirstREM;inthestateofAlagoas;intheNortheastGeographicalscopeoftheirdevelopments:Contentanalysisoftheirinstitutionalslo-gansortaglinesmicro,small,large8Sizeofcompany:ObservationsDerivedfromempiricalobservations,asmanyarelocatedinMaceióDerivedfromempiricalobservations,asseveralwerecreatedinthesameyearastheylaunchedtheirGC.DerivedfromempiricalobservationsInspiredbyBourdieu’sWork(1997b).Theyarenotcompaniesthatoperateatanationalscale.MostonlyoperateinAlagoas.InspiredbyBourdieu’sWork(1997b).Alluseslogansandta-glinesontheirinstitutionalwebsitesInspiredbyBourdieu’sWork(1997b).Wecouldnotaccessthefir-ms’capitalstock.Weusefirmsizeasaproxyforfinancialcapital.Source:Authors’compilation.Ofthe17developers,14sharethesamegeographicalcapitalastheyareheadquarteredinMaceió,thecapitalofAlagoas.Sixteensharesimilar“small”ownershipcapitalbecausetheirownersareprimarilyindividuals,families,orpartnerships,typicallyconsistingoftwoorthreepartners.Whi-lephotosandbriefvideosofsomeownersareavailableonInstagram,detailedonlineinformationabouttheiraffiliationsandeducationalbackgroundsremainsscarce.pioneerspecialists,specialists,Basedprimarilyontheircreation-entrycapital,weclassifiedthecompaniesintothreegroups:establishedbroad-basedfirmsand.6DatawereextractedfromtheEconodataplatformusingCNPJ(CorporateTaxpayerIdentificationNumber)searches.7Althoughculturalcapital(professionalknow-how)andtechnologicalcapital(modusoperandi)arerelevant,welacksuffi-8cientdatatosystematizethem.TheslogansortaglineswereextractedfromtheirInstagramand/ortheirofficialwebsite.8MarinaSartore;WandersonGomesFigure6:TimelineoftheArrivalofDevelopersinREM3.1PioneerspecialistsSource:Authors’compilationusingAI.Podium,Vale,Salt)sharethesamecreationentrycapital.Theywerecrea-Threedevelopers(tedbetween2000and2015andenteredtheREMbetween2015and2018,beforetheCOVID-19Podiumpandemic.Together,theyaccountfor15ofthe65developmentsintheREM.andMinhaCasa,MinhaVidaPodiumwasfoundedbytwocivilengineersfromMaceió.ThecompanyinitiallyparticipatedinProgram(MyHouse,MyLifeinPortuguese),afederalhousinginitia-thefullyshiftedtothetivethatprovidesaffordablehomestolow-incomefamilies.In2015,9Podium.Whileitsfirsttwogatedcondominiums(GC)wereloca-high-endrealestatemarketintheREMValereturnedtotedawayfromthebeachfront,thesubsequentsevenarebeachfront.In2024,enteredtheREMinMaceiówithaGCofferingdirectaccesstothewatersofalagoonisland.2016and,like,initiallydevelopedaGCawayfromthebeachfront(950meters).However,itssecondGC(launchedin2018)isbeachfront.ThecompanyhastwoadditionalbeachfrontGCsalongAlagoas’ssoutherncoast.arrivedattheREMin2018andcurrentlymaintainsfourGCsthere,althoughtheirpreciselocationscouldnotbeconfirmed.SaltBoutiquePodiumPodiumdefinesitselfasadeveloperofIntermsofcommercialcapital,reflectedintheirslogans,“high-endprojects”anda“specialistintheRotaEcológicadosMilagres.”promotesitselfasa“specialistingatedcondominiums,”whileSalt’suseof“boutique”conveysasmall,highlyspeciali-zedfirmfocusedonhigh-endservices.ValeInsummary,amongthepioneerspecialists,twosharethesameorganizationalcapitalastheypro-gressivelyexpandedtowardtheREM’sbeachfrontandothercoastalareasofAlagoas.Thethreeofthemactivelyleveragetheircommercialcapitalashigh-enddevelopersandspecialistsingatedcondominiumsandintheREM.9Datawereextractedfromthefollowingvideos:https://www.instagram.com/podiumengenharia/reel/DIhhLmETh5d/andhttps://youtu.be/KJDbLwXOX5Q.Accessedon:September2nd,20259SellingParadise3.2SpecialistsWeclassifiedtendevelopmentcompaniesasspecialists,sharingthesamecreationentrycapital,sinceallwerecreatedafter2019.Inhalfofthesecases(five),thefoundingyearcoincidedwiththeirentryintotheREM,suggestingtheywerefoundedspecificallytooperateintheregion.Des-ECMpitetheirrecentarrival,thesecompanieshavedriventherealestateboom,accountingfor44ofthe.65gatedcondominiums(GC)inthearea.Ofthese44,twentyweredevelopedbyWhencombinedwiththenineGCofthepioneer,thesethreecompaniesareresponsiblefornearlyhalf(29)ofalldevelopments,revealingamarkedconcentrationofcoastalappropriation.PodiumCiteconand3.2.1OrganizationalcapitalMinhaCiteconOfthetenspecialistdevelopers,threeenteredtheREMin2020,duringtheCOVID-19pandemic.Casa,MinhaVidaProgramPodium,foundedin2019,like,hadpreviouslyoperatedinthefederallow-incomebeforeshiftingitsfocustotheregion.ItnowleadsinthenumberofGCs,Madeiro,foundedin2020,hasnineGCs,onewith11developments,sixdirectlyonthebeachfront.,alsofoundedin2020,hasfourbeachfront,andtheothersupto350metersfromthesea.projects,nonebeachfront.AlthoughCiteconleadsintheREM,italsodevelopsinMaceióandotherQueirozAzevedopartsofAlagoas,asdoesMadeiro.TheremainingeightdevelopersoperateexclusivelyintheREM.CavalcanteeRolimECMRCVC-ComaxVivantDomariwasfoundedand,signalingtherepro-In2021,threemorecompaniesarrived.,totalingtenGCs.Fourarebeachfront,andwithfour.Theyalsojointlydevelopedthreeotherstherestarewithin300metersoftheshore.Completingthetrio,,theonlyoneheadquar-teredintheREM,launchedasinglebeachfrontproject.Oneofitspartnersisapioneeringlocalfigureorganizingthecelebrity-favored,withthreeGC,andTaipaRéveillondosMilagresCasaForte10.,11joinedwithfourdevelopmentsIn2022,specificallyfortheregion,launchingthreeprojects,nonebeachfront.In2024,eachdebutedabeachfrontproject;bothhavepartnersconnectedtoductionofagentsalreadyactiveinthearea..Thefollowingyear,MadeiroInsummary,thespecialistsrepresentaprofileofnewlyestablisheddeveloperswhohavebegunECMandoperatingintheREM,drivingarealestateboom.Withinthisgroup,twocompanies,,accountfornearlyone-thirdofalldevelopments.Mostaimtolocatetheirprojectsonorvery,witheventtransitioningbetweenshowbusinessandrealestatedevelopment.The-whocreatedhisowncom-closetothebeachfront.Additionally,weobserveaprocessofcapitalreconversionentrepreneurslikeDomarireisalsoacapitalconversionbyonesocialagentworkinginpany()andreachedapremiumspotbylaunchingabeachfrontGCin2024.MadeiroTaipa12,Citecon10PartnershipsbetweendeveloperstolaunchprojectsintheREMarecommon.Accordingtorealestateagentsinterviewed,11thisstrategybroadensmarketingreachtoeachdeveloper’sloyalaudienceandreducesoperationalcosts.12Wewereunabletofindmuchinformationaboutthisdeveloper.HereweadoptSaint-Martin’s(2022)approachtocapitalreconversion,astheprocesswasnotcomplete:thepartnerofTaipacontinuestobeinvolvedwiththemajorNewYear’sEvefestivities.10MarinaSartore;WandersonGomes3.2.2CommercialcapitalCiteconCiteconECMECMandpresentsitselfasa“specialistinhigh-returndevelopments,”whileemphasizeprofitabilityintheirslogans,targetingtheshort-termrentalmarket.promotes“invest-Caval-underscoresitsterritorialexclusivitywiththesloganQueirozAzevedomentswithhighreturnpotential.”canteRolim“ExclusivedevelopmentsintheparadiseofSãoMigueldosMilagres.”MadeiroandpositionthemselvesasspecialistsintheREM,highlightingexclusivityandhighstan-dardsthroughsloganssuchas“Wemaketheincomparable,”“High-standardbenchmarkontheEcologicalRouteofMiracles,”“Transformingdreamsintorealitywithexclusivedevelopments,”emphasizes“localculture,cura-and“Thedreamofinvestinginparadisebeginswithus.”13Vivantpresentsitselfastion,charm,architecture,andsustainabilitywith@tamojunto”a“developerspecializedintheEcologicalRouteofMiracles.”combinesprofitabilitywithhigh-standardpositioning,whileadoptsasensorylanguage,claimingtohavebeen“bornfromthesea”andtobe“buildingexperiences.”RCVC-ComaxDomariTaipaAsthepioneerspecialists,theystresstheirexpertise,butalsoincorporateeconomicvaluessuchasprofitabilityandinvestmentintotheirdiscourse,whileothersalsoevokesophisticationthrou-ghreferencestolocalculture,exclusivity(“makingtheincomparable”),origins(“bornfromthesea”),andevensensoryexperiencesinparadise.3.3EstablishedBroad-BasedFirmsSancoTelesil(1996),andMouraDubeux(1997),mostarebasedinAlagoas(exceptforRPontesFrom2021onward,developersclassifiedbyusasestablishedbroad-basedfirmsbeganopera-tingintheREM.Foundedbetweenthe1980sand1990s,suchas).(1988),Theyarebroad-basedbecausetheyhavedevelopmentsthroughoutAlagoasandevenacrosstheNortheast,asinthecasesofMouraDubeuxandSanco.Thesefourdevelopersdonotprimarilyfo-profileistheoppositecusontheREM,eachhavingonlyonedevelopmentby2024.ofthespecialists:Establishedin1983inRecife(thecapitalofPernambuco)bythreecivilengine-ers(andbrothers),itinitiallyfocusedonhigh-endbuildingsandexpandedacrosstheNortheast,currentlyencompassing25%oftherealestatemarketintheNortheast.By2013,ithadbuilttwomillionsquaremeters,andin2020,itwentpublicontheB3stockexchange(locatedinSãoPaulo).MouraDubeux(1983),MouraDubeux’sRPontesAsestablishedplayersintherealestateeconomicfield,thesecompaniesarenowjoiningtheREMtrend.Exceptfor,whosewebsitepromotesitssolebeachfrontdevelopmentintheREMalongsideotherhigh-endprojectsundertheslogan“Exclusivedevelopments,uniqueconcepts,”theotherthreedevelopershavecreateddistinctbrands,withseparateonlinelinksfortheirbeachfrontMouraDubeuxofferings.SancoEngenharialaunchedtheBeachClasslinein1999,targetingsecondhomesbytheseaformidd-leandhigh-incomeBrazilianandforeignbuyers.Itsportfoliocomprises30developmentstotalingsquaremeters,includingitssoleREMproject,BeachClassPatacho.9,638unitsandover850,000,whoseinstitutionaltaglineemphasizesitslong-standingexperienceinIn2021,brandforhigh-endmakingthedreamofowningafirsthomeareality,launchedtheSancoPrivilège1413@tamojuntoistheeventcompanythatorganizestheRéveillondosMilagres.14DatafromMouraDubeux’swebiste11SellingParadise,“thebestdeveloperintheNortheast,”launchedTelesilproperties,sellingReservaAyasúcondominiumintheREMasitssoledevelopment.Thatsameyear,tooperateinthedifferentiatedniche,includingMilagresBeachResidenceintheREM.BothSancoPrivilègeandTelesilMaiswereestablishedinthesameyeartheylaunchedtheirfirstREMprojects.Notably,theterms“Class,”“Pri-vilège,”and“”(plusinPortuguese)underscorethehigh-endpositioningoftheREM.TelesilMaisMaisThefollowingfigureprovidesaninitialdepictionoftherelationalpositionswithintheREMcoas-talrealestatetourismsubfieldfrom2015to2025,illustratingtheconcentrationofspecialistde-veloperscompetingforbeachfrontlotswiththewell-established,large-scaledevelopersfoundedinthe1980sand1990s,whoenteredtheREMlater,andlikewiseappropriatedthebeachfront.Figure7:REM’scoastalrealestatetourismsubfield–GCdevelopersfrom2015to20254Theproductionofthediscourseofremappropriationthroughpodium’sposts(2015–2025)Sorce:Preparedbytheauthorusingresearchdata.ThissectionanalyzescontentproducedonPodium’sInstagrambetweenDecember2015andMarch2025.AsthepioneerdeveloperintheREM,Podium’sposts,consideredbyusasaformofcommercialcapitalcomprisingasetofmarketingdiscourses,allowfortracingthediscursiveconstructionoftheREMoveradecade.AccordingtoBourdieu(2005),advertisingnotonlyfunc-tionsasamechanismforlegitimizingandproducingthevalueofgoods,butalsoperformsacons-titutiveroleintheproductionoftheeconomicfield.WejustifyselectingInstagramduetoitsrapidgrowthinBrazil,whichhadtheworld’ssecond--largestaudiencein2015with29millionusers(G1,2015)andreached134.6millionaccountsetby2025(Brazomídia,2025).Moreover,researchindicatesthatInstagramcanplayaperformativeal.roleintheconstructionoftouristdestinations(Fatanti&andSuyadnya,2015;Iglesias-Sánchez,2020),includingtheREM(Prado,2023).WeaccessedthePodium’sInstagramanddownloa-dedallcoverphotos,theimageshighlightedineachpost,asshowninthefigurebelow.12MarinaSartore;WandersonGomesFigure8:SampleofcoverphotospublishedonPodium’sInstagramSource:PodiumInstagram.Accessed23June2025.Wecollected524coverphotos,numberedthemasfigures,tabulatedthem,andclassifiedthemac-cordingtotheirslogans.Whennosloganwaspresent,classificationwasbasedontheimage.Three(postsfeaturingtips,ad-maincategorieswereestablished:postsfromthevice,companyprofile,andservicesofferedbythedeveloper),postsaboutthe(postswithdirectreferencetotheGC),andpostsaboutthe(postsemphasizingtheREM).DeveloperaboutitselfDevelopmentsPlaceTable2:Podiumpostsfrom2015–2025bycategoryYear2015201720182019202020212022202320242025TotalDeveloperDevelopmentPlaceTotalPosts21035582316181431521411047224074156220136118166626172152320416123611221184611524Source:preparedbytheauthors.SellingParadisedevelopmentsThetableaboveshowsthatpostingactivitywasminimaluntil2019.In2020,aturningdevelopmentsdeveloperplaceandpointoccurred,withasignificantincreaseinpostsabouttheAlthoughpostshighlightingthe2022and2023thatthecontentintensified,revealingaclearerstrategylinkingtheGCtotheREMterritory.BasedonTable2,wedividedtheanalysisoftheDeveloper,Developments,andPlacecategoriesintothreeperiods:T01(2015–2019),markedbylowactivity;T02(2020),identifiedasaturningpoint;andT03(2021–2025),aperiodofrapidgrowthinprojectsbyPodiumandotherdevelopersintheREM.twareThen,ouranalysisproceededintwosteps.First,slogansanditsalsogrewthatyear,itwasbetweenwereanalyzedusing1516VoyantToolsSof-.,toidentifythemostfrequentwordsandthemeaningfulwordsthatco-occurrencetoex-ploretheirassociations.Second,imageswerecategorizedintothreemaintypes:(1)Landscape,featuringparadisaicalbeaches;(2)HumanFigures,focusingonpeople;and(3)Infrastructure,highlightingconstructions,andservices.Ourdiscussionprimarilyfocusesontheslogans.4.1TheDeveloper:TurningintoanexpertinDreams,Market,Luxury,andBeachfrontPrivilegeintandemwiththegrowingprofessionalizationandrecognitionoftheREMasaluxurytouristdestinationPodium’scoverphotosrevealaprocessofprofessionalizationandrecognition.InT01(2015–2019),asapioneeringspecialist,Podiumpublished20coverphotosofferingadviceonbeachhousedecorationandinvestment,linkingdreams,audacity,andeconomiccalculation.Thecompany’sexpertiseencompassedinvestment,decoration,andtherealizationofaspirations.InT02(2020),coverphotosincreasedto58(cf.Table01)asInstagrambecametheprimarypro-motionalchannelduringtheCOVID-19pandemic.Thisyearalsosawthearrivalofcompetingspe-cialists,intensifyingfieldcompetition.Thematicfocusontipsandadviceregardingbeachhouse),decorationandinvestmentsintensified,withthemostfrequentslogantermsbeing“house”(26“dream”(10),“investment”(10),“beach”(10),and“gatedcommunity”(10).Coverphoto155,pu-blishedinNovember2020,introducedtheprofitabilityadvice:“Haveyouconsideredinvestinginamodernpropertyandprofitingfromshort-termrentals?”Podium’spioneeringprofilewasrein-forcedwithsloganssuchas“12yearsbuildingyourdream”(Fig.92fromourdataset).17“dre-InT03(2021–2025),74sloganscontinuedtounderscorethedeveloper’sroleasanadvisoronhou-am”sing(12),whilealsoforegroundingtermssuchas“market”“privilege,”am”emergedasanewthematicelement.Co-occurrenceanalysisshowslinkedto“gatedcommunity,”(6),(6).Persistentkeywordsincludedwhile“dre-associatedwithand“privilege.”Theterm“beachfront,”“decoration,”“property”“property”(6),and“luxury,”“family”“beach,”“invest”“invest”“home,”“house”andandand(6),conveysboththeideaofsomethingtobeaspiredtoandofsomethingalreadyrealized.ComparedwithT01andT02,whenemphasiswasplacedoninvestmentquestionsandprofit,inT03,thedeveloperincreasinglyintroducestheideaofluxury,asillustratedbycoverphoto557fromourdataset(March2025).Othersloganshighlightthecompany’smodernization,showca-151617Atotalof324sloganswereanalyzed.Fortheco-occurrences,weconsideredthetwoprecedingwordsandthetwowordsthatfollowed.Thenumbersinparenthesesshowhowofteneachwordappearsinthecorpus.Forthisanalysis,wefocusontermfrequen-cyregardlessofcorpussize.14MarinaSartore;WandersonGomessingthelaunchofitsnewwebsiteandrecognitionthroughawardsgrantedbyaMaceió/Alago-as-basedorganization.Thislogicofluxuryisfurtherreinforcedbytheappearanceofaconciergeserviceofferedbythedeveloper,underscoringtheREM’sconsolidationasahigh-endtourismdes-tination.Melo(2016)hadalreadynotedtherepositioningofSãoMigueldosMilagresasaluxurydestinationwheresimply“beingatthebeach”becomesasociallydistinctiveprivilege.Figure9:Representativecoverphotosrelatedtothedeveloper(T01,T02,T03)T01(Tips,Dreams,InvestmentinaBeachHouse)T02(InvestmentandProfiting)T03(InvestmentandLuxury)Fig.19fromourdataset.PostedonMay29,2017.“Makeyourdreamscometrue”(Author’stranslation).Fig.155fromourdataset.PostedonNovember14,2020.“Haveyouconsi-deredinvestinginamodernpropertyandprofitingfromshort-termrentals?”(Author’stranslation).Fig.557fromourdataset.PostedonMarch24,2025.“IsbuyingaluxurypropertyinAlagoasworthit?”(Au-thor’stranslation).Source:Productionbytheauthorsusingcoverphotosfromtheresearchdatabase.4.2Developments:BeachfrontParadisesBy2021,thedeveloperhadlaunchedfourprojects.In2021,itlaunchedthreeadditionaldevelop-ments,followedbyonein2022andanotherin2023.Figure10:TimelineofPodium’sdevelopmentsSource:Datasourcedfromthesequenceofpublicationsbythecompany15SellingParadiseMilagresInT01(2015–2019),15slogansrelatedtodevelopmentswereanalyzed,withthemostfrequentwordsbeing“dream”(7)and“Miracles”()(3).Thedevelopmentsareframedasdreamstiedtosomethingtangible,somethingtobebuiltandbroughttofruition.Theword“Miracles”re-ferstothelocationbutisalsousedconnotatively,asin“herethemiraclesbegin”(Fig.46fromourdataset).Thewords“family”and“leisure”alsoappearprominently.InT02(2020),25sloganswereanalyzed.Themostfrequentwordswere:“Miracles”(7);“live”(3);“dream”(3);“living”(3);and“bythesea”(3).Co-occurrenceanalysisshowsthat“Miracles”isassociatedwiththeplaceandwiththeword“paradise,”while“dream”islinkedto“build.”Theword“living”co-occurswith“paradise,”“closetonature,”and“invest.”Theterm“bythesea”isas-sociatedwith“high-standard,”“mostbeautifulcoast,”and“view.”Atthisstage,developmentsarepresentednotonlyasdreamsbutalsoashigh-standardinvestmentopportunitiesinaparadisebythesea.InT03(2021–2025),157sloganswereanalyzed.Themostfrequentsloganwordswere:“mira-cles”(20);“sea”(15);“home”(10);“best”(9);“leisure”(8);“living”(7);“perfect”(7);“ecologicalroute”(7);“comfort”(7);“refuge”(6);“paradise”(6);“exclusivity”(6);and“beachfront”(6).Theword“sea”nowsurpasses“home”suggestingafocusontheoutdoorexperiences.Co-occurrenceanalysisshows“sea”associatedwith“beachfront,”“bythesea”“paradise,”“view,”and“privilege.”Developmentsarepresentednotmerelyasbeachhousesbutasaperfectrefuge,offeringoceanviews,exclusivity,andcomfort.Figure12:Representativecoverphotosrelatedtothedevelopments(T01,T02,T03)T01(Developmentsasmiraclesandadream)T02(DevelopmentsinParadise)T03(Luxurydevelopmentsbythesea)Fig.46fromourdataset.PostedonJune12,2019.“Herethemiraclesbegin”(Au-thor’stranslation).Fig.90fromourdataset.PostedonMay15,2020.“Haveyoueverimagi-nedyourwholefamilylivingintheparadisethatisSãoMigueldosMila-gres?”(Author’stranslation).Fig.177fromourdataset.PostedonDe-cember01,2021.“Anewluxurylifestyleisborn,fullyintegratedwiththeenviron-ment:ahigh-endbeachfrontresidentialcondominiumontheRotaEcológicadosMilagres.”(Author’stranslation).Source:Productionbytheauthorsusingcoverphotosfromtheresearchdatabase.16MarinaSartore;WandersonGomes4.3AbouttheMiracles:FromaremoteplacetoabenchmarkInT01(2015–2019),therewereafewslogansfocusingontheplace(7).Themostfrequentwordsinsloganswere“living”(4),“paradise”(2),“Miracles”(2),“Brazil”(2),“Alagoas”(2),and“believeinmira-cles”(2).Atthisstage,thereisacleartendencytoportraytheREMasadistantparadisetobediscovered.InT02(2020),18sloganswereanalyzed.Themostfrequentwordsincluded“Miracles”(9),refe-rencingtheplaceasa“paradise,”“beach”,“perfectbeaches,”and“haveyoubeen?”Thetonestillemphasizesthediscoveryoftheplaceasaparadise.InT03(2021–2025),coverphotosincreasedto127,withfrequentwordsincluding“Miracles”(16),“paradise”(8),“ecologicalroute”(6),and“beach”(6).Co-occurrenceanalysisshowsthat“Miracles”nolongercarriestheconnotationofanextraordinaryeventbutreferseithertothegeographiclocationalongtheEcologicalRouteorabenchmark.Forexample,fivedirectlymentionthecityofSãoMigueldosMilagres(withsloganssuchas“paradisiacalbeaches,”“bestexperien-ce,”“whereisthisparadise?”).SixreferencesabouttheEcologicalRouteasawhole(“growingvalue,”“luxurybeachfronttourism,”“development,”“restfromfestivities”),andfiveuse“Miracles”moregenerically,asabenchmarklinkedtonature,ecotourism,dreams,andrelaxation.Fieldwork,however,revealstensions:publicagentsfromPortodePedrascriticizetheprominencegiventoSãoMigueldosMilagres,arguingthatthe“Miracles”labelhomogenizestheregionanderasesthelocalidentitiesofothermunicipalities.ThisprocessechoesBrunoandSalle’s(2018)analysisofthesymbolicreconfigurationofterritoriesbyelites,asobservedinPampelonne,France.Theword“paradise”frequentlyappearsassociatedwithtranquility,safety,andenvironmentalqualitycertification(BlueFlag).“Beach”isvisuallyemphasizedasaparadisaical,recreational,andcontemplativesetting,withparticularattentiontoPatachoBeach,whichhasreceivedtheBlueFlagcertification.Figure13:Representativecoverphotosrelatedtotheplace(T01,T02,T03)T01(Miraclesasadistantdream)T02(ThetownofSãoMigueldosMilagres)T03(Miracleasabenchmark)Fig.07fromourdataset.PostedonApril04,2017.“TheRouteofMiraclesstandsoutinpublicationsabouttourisminBrazil;livinginaplacelikethisislivinginparadise;#BelieveInMiracles”(Au-thor’stranslation).Fig.135fromourdataset.PostedonSeptember19,2020.“SãoMigueldosMilagreswillprovideyouwithincrediblelandscapes,unforgettableexperiences,andear-to-earsmiles.”(Author’strans-lation).Source:Productionbytheauthorsusingcoverphotosfromtheresearchdatabase.Fig.423fromourdataset.PostedonFebruary02,2025.“Feelthespectacleofnatureeveryday.LiveMilagres.”(Au-thor’stranslation).17SellingParadiseInadditiontoT03slogananalysis,animage-basedanalysiswasconducted.Outdooractivitiesandbeachaccessareprominentlyfeatured.Ofthe70imagesanalyzedwithoutslogans,38depictalltheelementsofaparadise:crystalclearandbluewater,anemptybeach,asunnyday,andcoconuttrees(Fig.322below).Othersbringpeopleonoff-beachactivities(golf,massage,shopping,con-dominiumviews),sports,andseasideexperiences(diving,stand-uppaddle,surfing,kitesurfing).Humanfigures,whetherfamilies,couples,orindividuals,areconsistentlyportrayedaswhite(inastatewhere60%ofthepopulationidentifiesasnon-whites),youngandslender,enjoyingthebeachexclusively,andconveyinghappiness.Figure16:CoverphotosillustratingbeachusesFig.368Fig.447Fig.391Fig.510Leisure/FamilyRomanceContemplationWellnessFig.528AdvetureFig.317FoodFig.322ParadiseSource:Productionbytheauthorsusingcoverphotosfromtheresearchdatabase.5Finalconsiderations–socialagentsandtheirsociodiciesofthesupplyofgcintherem’scoastalReal-StateTourismFieldWhoisparticipatingintheconstructionoftheREM’scoastalrealestatetourismsubfield?Usingthenotionoffieldasaheuristictool,weobservedthatGCbuildersareprimarilylocalsocialagentsworkinginfirmswithsmallownershipstructures.Inourfielddesign,wehighlightfactorsthatbothalignanddifferentiatethesebuilders,withsimilaritiesprevailing.AllofthemevokeexpertiseintheREM,eitherbyconvertingtheirreputationfrompopulartohigh-standardconstruction,asinPodiumandCitecon,bylaunchingtheirbusinessesalreadyfocusedonboutiquedevelopments,asinCavalcanteandRolim,orbycreatingspecificbrandstooperateintheregion,asinSanco,MouraDubeux,andTelesil.ThespecialistsconcentratetheirprojectsintheREM,withavisibleconcentrationinthenumberofdevelopments,sincethreecompaniesaccountfor44%ofallGC.ManyoftheirinvestmentsareallintheREM,andseveralfirmsappeartohavebeencreatedpreciselytooperatethere,astheirfoundingdatescoincidewiththelaunchofthefirstGC.Thereisalsoaconcentrationincompanysize,mostlysmallfirms,oftenfamily-basedorstructuredassmallpartnerships,andintheircoo-perativestrategies,asCavalcanteandRolimandQueirozandAzevedojointlybuildthreeprojectswithoutclearlydisclosingthispartnership.Wealsoobservedcapitalreconversion,asinthecaseofasocialagentwhomovesbetweenshowbusinessandrealestate,andcapitalconversion,asinthecaseofanagentworkingatMadeirowhocreatedhisowncompanywithafirstseafrontdeve-lopment.Differencesremain,sinceattheotherendofthespectrumstandestablishedcompanieswithlongerexperience,morediversifiedportfolios,andwidergeographicscope,althougheachhasonlyoneGCintheREM,locatedinpremiumseafrontareas.Whatarethelegitimatenarrativesthatjustifydevelopers’positionsinthesubfield?TheREMwasoncearemoteplace,andeventoday,accessremainsdifficult.Podium’sownerstatedinaninter-18MarinaSartore;WandersonGomes18viewthattheywerethefirsttotaketheriskofdevelopingtherein2015.AftertheCOVID-19pan-demic,italteredtheobjectiveconditionsoftheglobaltourismfield;developershadtheknow-how,andthelocationhadtheattributesofalostparadisereadytobetransformedintoacommodity.By2025,theirslogansandtaglinescommonlyreferencedspecialization,investment,dreams,lu-xury,anduniqueness.Between2015and2025thesesociodiciesevolved,asshownthroughPo-dium’sInstagramposts.InT01,thediscoursepresentedthebeachhouseasalifeprojectyettobeachievedinaparadiseawaitingdiscovery.InT02Podiumreinforceditsroleasamiraclefacilitatorandgraduallypositioneditselfasanexpertwhilethepropertybecameahighendinvestmentandafinancialassetforshort-termrentals.From2021onwardPodiumconsolidateditssymbolicau-thorityascompletedandawardwinningdevelopmentsreplacedpromises,andthehomebecameexplicitlyassociatedwithluxury,exclusivity,privilege,andbeachfrontliving.Theevolutionofthisadvertisingillustratestheconstructionofasociodicythatlegitimizestheprivateappropriationofbeachaccessunderthesymbolicframeworkofthemiracle,interpretedassomethingonceunli-kelybutnowrealized,asadreamoflivinginparadise,asthenameofamunicipality,asaninvest-mentsite,andasabenchmarkforluxuryandsustainability.Inthissymbolicstruggle,Podiumandtheotherdevelopersappearasthosewhooperationalizeaneconomicmiraclebygeneratingem-ployment,municipalrevenue,andincomeforownersandseasonalrentalfirms.Theyalsoprovidethemiracleofcomfortbydeliveringfurnishedhomesinaremoteregion,andthemiracleofaccesstoparadiseasanexclusiveluxuryexperiencethroughconciergeservices.Animportantobservationmustbemade.Thediscourseofluxuryhasbecomeaprominenttrendintourism.However,howisitpossibletomaintainexclusivitywith65developmentscomprisingatleast3,284housingunitsalongonly23kilometersofcoastline?Thiscontradictionbetweenlu-xuryasexclusiveandatthesametimeaccessibletoallisaddressedbyNettoandMiraldi(2017),whoshowthatthenewluxurytourismisstructuredaroundindividualizedexperiencesavailabletomany.Althoughthismaysuggestdecreasingstratification,theauthorsarguethatluxuryisnotdemocratizingbutreconfiguringdistinction,asagenciesdifferentiatebetweenthoseforwhomlu-xuryisembodiedandthosewhomustlearntoconsumeit,asillustratedbyPodium’sowner,whostatedinaninterviewthathehadtolearnwhatluxurymeant.19Thispaperoffersafirststeptowardadeepersociologicalanalysisofthebuildersreshapingac-cesstoparadiseintheREM.Bymappingtheirpositions,strategies,andsociodicies,weshowhowlocalfirmsandestablisheddevelopersconstructacoastalrealestatesubfieldthattransformsaonceremoteareaintoacommodifiedlandscapeof“exclusive”access.Adeeperinvestigationofdevelopers’cultural,educational,andfamilybackgrounds,thepaymentmethodsenablingGCho-meownership,andotherbuilders’marketingstrategiesisstillneededtotestthehypothesisthattheREMexemplifiesanewluxurytourismbasedontheparadoxofexclusiveaccessforall.Advan-cingthisfield-orientedapproachwillclarifyhowtheseactorscollectivelystructureandlegitimizetheongoingenclosureofcoastalaccessinoneofBrazil’smostcovetedparadises.1819Interviewavailableon:https://youtu.be/KJDbLwXOX5Q.Accessedon:September5th,2025.Ibidem19SellingParadiseFundingCAPESandPPGSAcknowledgmentsWethankCAPESandtheGraduatePrograminSociologyforfundingthisresearchthroughadoctoralscholarshipandfieldworksupport.WealsothankthereviewersanddiscussantsoftheWorkingGrouponSocietyandEconomyatANPOCS(2025)andtheEconomicSociologysessionatSBS(2025)fortheircarefulreadingandvaluablesuggestionsthatimprovedtheearlyversionsofthisarticle.Linktoaccessthearticle’sempiricaldatahttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1nAkxMJ4oNeUyoRmfI9E9NMHX4zZ_r042/view?usp=sharingReferencesnodoEstadodeAlagoasAGÊNCIAALAGOAS.TurismoemAlagoasbatenovorecordeeimpulsionaeconomiadoestado.thPortalOficialdoGover--recorde-e-impulsiona-economia-do-estado.Accessedon:June24,2025.,March18Leinº7.231,de7dejaneirode2011.,2025.Availableon:https://alagoas.al.gov.br/noticia/turismo-em-alagoas-bate-thALAGOAS.DispõesobreaPolíticadeDesenvolvimentodoTurismoSustentá-veldoEstadodeAlagoasesobreacriaçãodeÁreasEspeciaisdeInteresseTurístico(AEIT)naSubzonadeDesenvol-vimentoEconômicoII,queenglobaosmunicípiosdePortodePedras,SãoMigueldosMilagresatéopovoadodeBarradeCamaragibe,emPassodeCamaragibe,enasubzonadedesenvolvimentoeconômicoV,queenglobaosmunicípiosdeCoqueiroSeco,MarechalDeodoro,BarradeSãoMigueleRoteiro,atéaPraiadoGunga.Maceió,AL:GabinetedoGovernador,January7,2011.Availableon:https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/bra116100.pdf.Accessedon:December12,2025.thth.RevistaMovimentosSociaiseDinâmicasEspaciais(RMSDE)ARAÚJO,CristinaPereirade;SANTOS,DeniseBetâniaMarquesdos.Aproduçãodoespaçopeloturismonolitoralper-nambucano:processosecontradições,Recife,v.11,n.1,2022.Availableon:https://periodicos.ufpe.br/revistas/index.php/revistamseu/article/view/253180.Accessedon:Jun.18th,2025.Litoralàvista:BARBOSA,NatháliadeMoura.umaanálisedosimpactosdaatividadeturísticanarelaçãoindivíduo-ter-ritórionaRotaEcológicadosMilagres-AL.2021.115f.Dissertação(MestradoemSociologia)–UniversidadeFederaldeSergipe,SãoCristóvão,2021.Availableon:https://ri.ufs.br/bitstream/riufs/15163/2/NATHALIA_MOURA_BARBOSA.pdf.Accessedon:December12th,2025Contre-feuxBOURDIEU,Pierre..EditionsRaisonsD’Agir,1998.128p.ActesdelarechercheemsciencessocialesBOURDIEU,Pierre.Lechampéconomique.économistes,p.48-66.DOI:https://doi.org/10.3406/arss.1997.3229.Lesstructuressocialesdel’économie,v.119,1997b.ÉconomieetBOURDIEU,Pierre.Lesensdelapropriété.In:BOURDIEU,Pierre.2000,p.117-142.TheSocialStructuresoftheEconomy.Paris:Seuil,BOURDIEU,Pierre.InAmisériadomundo.Cambridge:PolityPress,2005.268p.BOURDIEU,Pierre.Efeitosdelugar.159-175.OestadoeomercadonoprocessodeproduçãodoespaçoemAlagoas:BOURDIEU,Pierre..Petrópolis,RJ:Vozes.7.ed.,2008.p.BRANDÃO,LuizFelipe.ImprensaOficialGracilianoRamos,2018.172p.ConstituiçãodaRepúblicaFederativadoBrasil.Maceió:Fapeal/.Brasília,DF:SenadoFederal.CentroGráfico.AvailableBRASIL,1988.on:https://www2.senado.leg.br/bdsf/bitstream/handle/id/623234/CF88_EC129_livro.pdfAccessedon:December12th,2025.PopulaçãodeAlagoas.BRASIL.InstitutoBrasileirodeGeografiaeEstatística.on:https://www.ibge.gov.br/cidades-e-estados/al.html.Accessedon:June9th,2025.IBGE,CidadeseEstados.2022.Available20MarinaSartore;WandersonGomesBRAZOMIDIA.DadossobreoInstagramnoBrasilem2025.Availableon:https://brazomidia.com.br/dados-sobre-o--instagram-no-brasil-2025/.Accessedon:June24th,2025.Socio-EconomicReviewBRUNO,Isabelle;SALLE,Grégory.‘Beforelongtherewillbenothingbutbillionaires!’Thepowerofelitesoverspaceon,Oxford,v.16,n.2,p.435–458,2018.Availableon:https://doi.theSaint-Tropezpeninsula.org/10.1093/ser/mwy016.Accessedon:July1st,2025.RevistaBrasileiradeEcoturismoCAMÊLO,AnaRísiaSoares;ARAUJO,LindembergMedeirosde.Oolharlocalso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