Acteurs violents et gestion de la crise pandémique au Brésil et au Mexique. Ruptures ou continuités dans le contrôle social ?

Abstract

This work examines the management of the pandemic through the local actions of violent state and non-state actors: the armed forces, the police and criminal groups. To what extent does the configuration of violent actors represent a break with their usual role in social control? We are looking at several cases at the subnational level within Brazil and Mexico. We take a qualitative approach that is based primarily on the analysis of government websites, reports from human rights organizations, media and social networks. The data demonstrate the continuing role of violent actors maintaining social order through coercion. The pandemic has nonetheless encouraged the publicity of such coercive practices, which are historically linked to the precarious and marginalized status suffered by the social groups benefiting from these “philanthropic” actions.

Keywords

• Mexico
• Brazil
• Covid-19
• violent state actors
• violent non-state actors