An outline on anticommunismo in the field of public security

Abstract

Public security as a field in dispute mobilizes various social actors in an attempt to determine its guidelines. This article seeks to observe these disputes, shedding light on the possible political participation of the ideology of anti-communism, especially in Brazil. The non-official definition of the term “public security” can function as an enabler for the contamination of the field by anti-communism, especially after the reformulation of the concept of national sovereignty that began in 1960, under the influence of North American foreign policy during the Cold War. Through the concept of isomorphism and case-by-case examples, such as the PMDF's behavior in the January 8 coup attempt, I theoretically outline how a perception can be constructed that anti-communism operates indirectly and directly in the field of public security. Indirectly as a component of the political culture of Latin America, and directly when persecution occurs by security forces against individuals and/or organizations considered communist or left-wing. Anti-communism in the field of public security appears to be one of the obstacles to be overcome in the search for a more democratic, civilized, civic-minded and less militarized police force.