Problemas biopolíticos: corpo, raça e violência

Abstract

In the Contemporary, discussions about biopolitics acquire an expanded space in the academic field, especially in Political Philosophy. Based on the thoughts of Michel Foucault (1926-1984), this research focuses on analyzing the reception of the concept of biopolitics in Latin America and Brazil, observing the ways in which authors use Foucault's lexicon as “theoretical tools” for current analysis. In an initial mapping, Foucault's theories are presented through the fields of interdictions in which biopolitics operates. These areas are: (i) social medicine and public health issues; (ii) urban architecture, city formation and territorial security; (iii) the government of the population and the capitalist economy; (iv) body, race and violence. The issue of body and race stand out, making it necessary to deepen the investigation from this perspective. Thus, the contributions of Achille Mbembe (1957–), Santiago Castro-Gómez (1958–), Sueli Carneiro (1950–) and Sílvio Almeida (1976–) are essential for understanding how Foucault’s thought is approached when the focus is on the relationship between body and race, permeated by violence. “Philosophical problems” are investigated as “biopolitical problems”, which arise when there is an intersection between the problem of administering life and the political issues of governing the population. The set of these theoretical elements shows a fruitful path for critically reflecting on the ways in which individuals behave in interpersonal relationships. Additionally, it contributes to understanding the relationship between the State and the governed population