The Slaveholding Legacy in Public Security in Brazil

Abstract

This article proposes a comprehensive reflection on the historical trajectory of thought regarding slavery in the Western context, aiming to elucidate its intricate relationship with the development of contemporary public security frameworks. The study begins with a detailed monographic analysis of the philosophical and legal discourses surrounding slavery, meticulously examining the inherent ambiguities and paradoxes that emerge from the institution of slavery as a lived experience. This section highlights how foundational thinkers and legal systems have grappled with the concept of slavery, revealing the complex and often contradictory justifications for its practice. In the second part, the article delves into the interconnectedness between slavery, security, crime, and violence, exploring how the institution of slavery necessitated and shaped specific forms of social control. This reflection underscores the role of slavery in establishing enduring mechanisms of surveillance, discipline, and punitive measures that have continued to influence modern notions of security and criminality. The final section seeks to trace the transformations, continuities, and divergences in the methods of social control exerted over enslaved populations, particularly in the context of the formation of the contemporary Brazilian state. By examining the legacies of colonial and post-colonial policies on current public security practices, the study aims to shed light on how historical patterns of domination and control have been adapted and sustained in Brazil’s public security model. This includes an analysis of the ways in which racial prejudices and the stigmatization of black populations have persisted, influencing both legal frameworks and social attitudes towards crime and security.