(PT) Legitimacy and legality of “milícias” in Brazil

Abstract

In contemporary Brazil, the term “militia” is used in everyday language to designate groups made up of the State´s security forces, in particular members of the military polices, which, out of duty, take control over neighborhoods (presumably) dominated or threatened by drug traffickers, in order to implement “law and order”. It is argued that these groups constitute a “minor evil” compared to the criminals they intend to combat. Thus, it is attributed to them a certain degree of legitimacy. In reality, however, the term “militia” serves to camouflage groups that classify as organized crime.