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When is it Violent Enough? The Brazilian State's Logic on the Criminalization or Legitimization of Violence

Volponi Hecht Pereira, Maria Fernanda LU (2025) SOLM12 20251
Department of Sociology of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis explores the Brazilian State logic of criminalization or legitimization of violence
through two important cases: the 1992 Carandiru massacre, in which 111 inmates were
assassinated by the military police, and the 2013-2014 Black Bloc demonstrations in which 23
activists were criminalized. Aiming to challenge entrenched ideas about violence, the research
investigates who benefits from the Brazilian State logic. Through the lenses of Achille
Mbembe’s Necropolitics, alongside Norman Fairclough’ Critical Discourse Analysis
framework, this research analyzes the Brazilian State discourse in judicial documents that
legitimates or criminalizes violence depending on the actors involved. The findings reveal
how State violence is... (More)
This thesis explores the Brazilian State logic of criminalization or legitimization of violence
through two important cases: the 1992 Carandiru massacre, in which 111 inmates were
assassinated by the military police, and the 2013-2014 Black Bloc demonstrations in which 23
activists were criminalized. Aiming to challenge entrenched ideas about violence, the research
investigates who benefits from the Brazilian State logic. Through the lenses of Achille
Mbembe’s Necropolitics, alongside Norman Fairclough’ Critical Discourse Analysis
framework, this research analyzes the Brazilian State discourse in judicial documents that
legitimates or criminalizes violence depending on the actors involved. The findings reveal
how State violence is legitimized, while violence organized by activists and marginalized
groups are prominent to be criminalized. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Volponi Hecht Pereira, Maria Fernanda LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOLM12 20251
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Brazilian State, Activists, Criminalization, Legitimization, Violence
language
English
id
9212909
date added to LUP
2025-09-23 15:16:25
date last changed
2025-09-23 15:16:25
@misc{9212909,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the Brazilian State logic of criminalization or legitimization of violence
through two important cases: the 1992 Carandiru massacre, in which 111 inmates were
assassinated by the military police, and the 2013-2014 Black Bloc demonstrations in which 23
activists were criminalized. Aiming to challenge entrenched ideas about violence, the research
investigates who benefits from the Brazilian State logic. Through the lenses of Achille
Mbembe’s Necropolitics, alongside Norman Fairclough’ Critical Discourse Analysis
framework, this research analyzes the Brazilian State discourse in judicial documents that
legitimates or criminalizes violence depending on the actors involved. The findings reveal
how State violence is legitimized, while violence organized by activists and marginalized
groups are prominent to be criminalized.}},
  author       = {{Volponi Hecht Pereira, Maria Fernanda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{When is it Violent Enough? The Brazilian State's Logic on the Criminalization or Legitimization of Violence}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}