This article aims to promote a critical analysis of the National Agrarian Reform Plans (PNRA), elaborated between 1985 and 2003, in order to highlight the paradigmatic framework responsible for consolidating the different development perspectives for the Brazilian countryside (PNRA I, II PNRA-MDA and II PNRA-PLÍNIO). Therefore, we analyze the main conceptions about the concepts of peasant and family farmer, in addition to the outlines and defining characteristics of each Plan, which supports the paradigmatic qualification proposed here. Finally, we performed a comparative analysis between the different PNRA's in order to reveal varied perspectives, interests and "views" that referenced the elaboration of each of the Plans analyzed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]