Between control and care: drug policy and its interfaces with religion and crime

Abstract

In the Mexican political context as well as in Brazil, the issue of drugs is a central social issue, especially regarding relations and conflicts between "crime" and the state. With this in mind, this project presents a proposal for Stage Research Grant Abroad (BEPE - FAPESP), under the direction of Prof. Gonzalo Saraví, the Center for Research and Higher Studies in Social Anthropology (CIESAS), with the aim of developing a more careful and systematic reflection on drug policy interfaced with the links between crime, the state and religion in the management of the users of these substances. This reflection will serve as input (comparative and contrastive) for analysis of the research material compiled in the region "crackolandia" in the center of Sao Paulo, during the first half of 2015 (and previous research conducted from September 2011). During the field research, the relevance of the drug dealers became apparent, along with other actors (Baptist missionaries, civilian police, military, policemen, social workers, health workers, municipal officials, etc.) in the management the order in the territory. Given the general theme of research expertise in process, ie, the issue of drugs at the intersection with marginalized populations, the choice of foreign teacher Gonzalo Saraví is justified by its commitment to research on youth, inequality , urban poverty and segregation in the Mexican context and sharing networks established with research groups in Brazil. This comparative ability, access to research literature, as well as contact with the foreign supervisor and other researchers of the same subject in Mexico, contribute to the development of research expertise and ongoing internationalization of research networks and dialogue academic and research groups currently integrated by the researcher. (AU)