Militarização urbana, um “arrastão” de sentidos: narrativas de O Globo sobre as intervenções militares no Rio de Janeiro (1992 – 2018)

Abstract

This thesis aims to analyze the meanings produced by O Globo regarding the Law and Order Guarantee (1992), created for the United Nations Global Conference on the Environment and Social Development, and the Federal Intervention (2018), designed to control alleged public disorder. The objective is to highlight that these military plans, which controlled Rio de Janeiro, particularly in areas inhabited by poor and Black people, are continuities of the civil-military dictatorship (1964–1985), characterized by authoritarianism and undemocratic practices, as well as of slavery (1500–1888), during which Black people suffered violence and dehumanization. The hypothesis of this study is that O Globo’s narratives about the Law and Order Guarantee (1992) and the Federal Intervention (2018) were intended to indirectly or directly stimulate the desire for urban militarization among its readers. This was made possible by the emphasis placed on stories and voices that highlighted the increased sense of security in privileged areas of the capital and state, a consequence of militarization, which led residents of these regions to demand the continued presence of the military in their neighborhoods. On the other hand, criticism of the Army's overt presence in slums and suburbs, as well as the disproportionate violence directed at residents of these areas, received less attention. Furthermore, as many people believe that militarization in the city is effective, politicians have started to support this idea, either to appeal to their old voters or to attract new ones. The continuity of the dictatorship and slavery can be attributed to the perception that the Army is more effective in maintaining security. A part of the population believes that military presence is essential to guarantee order, particularly in slums, which are viewed as more dangerous than other parts of the city. This perception results in more stringent control of these areas by soldiers, perpetuating the idea that their residents are more violent. As a consequence, there is an increase in assaults, arrests, deaths, and incarcerations in these impoverished communities. To achieve the proposed objectives, we employed narrative analysis as the methodology, following the triple mimesis model proposed by Ricoeur (2010). The analysis of O Globo’s journalistic narratives revealed three forms of continuity between 1992 and 2018. Firstly, there is political continuity, where public figures utilized urban militarization as a tool to enhance their image and garner popular support. This strategy was evident in both the Law and Order Guarantee and the Federal Intervention. Secondly, the continuity of repression is apparent: in both periods, slums and peripheral areas were controlled by military forces, with O Globo consistently representing these areas as dangerous and inhabited by criminals. Finally, there is a continuity in the denial of rights. In both events analyzed, there was significant investment in security policies, but very little investment in public policies and rights for slums and suburbs, as well as for their residents.