Fear as a product, continuum as a solution: the role of private companies in the transnational diffusion of zero tolerance policing to Brazil

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the diffusion of zero tolerance policing in Brazil. It argues that the global diffusion of security practices and technologies occurs through a multiplicity of channels operated by private security companies. Based on a multi-sited ethnography of electronic security fairs in São Paulo and a discourse analysis of publications distributed in these fairs, the paper discusses how these actors perform a semantic continuum between crime and existential threats. The consolidation of this continuum favors local attempts on the toughening of law enforcement and police intrusiveness, facilitating the marketing of transnational security models and technologies.

KEYWORDS:

• International security
• zero tolerance
• security fairs

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Miguel Patriota for his careful reading and suggestions to this text. This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), under Grant [2016/24525-3].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Security consulting companies such as Rudolph Giuliani’s then commercialize and implement this risk assessment ‘commodity’, both in conflict areas like Iraq (Mitchell 2010; Stephen 2016), or in cities considered violent in Latin America (Swanson 2013).

2. Despite the existence of a wide literature regarding the typologies of private transnational companies – defensive, offensive, military, private, etc (Abrahamsen and Williams 2007), Joachim and Schneiker (2014) understand that these typologies are problematic, focused only on the product provided by these companies. The authors argue that more important still is the discourse they promote, and how this shapes their identity while accessing a specific market. For instance, Cusamano (2020) identifies 3 periods in history in which these companies assumed different identities – which can be observed through the changes in their logos: in the 1990’s, they sought not to be recognized as military companies, drifting away from the Cold War image; in the 2000’s, seeking to expand the market, they sought to associate themselves to the Iraq war and present their ability to operate both in the civilian and war fields; and in the current period, in which they seek to consolidate their markets by adopting low key logos and present themselves as business-focused companies.

3. See: https://www.globalsecuralliance.com/key-figures-and-best-international-references/

4. See: http://www.giulianisecurity.com/pt/servicos/

5. In her analysis on risk and security companies, Krahmann (2011, 355) describes three types of risks: Known risks, denoting dangers that regularly affect people’s lives, which are allegedly certain and imminent; Unknown risks, which are calculable, have a probability and may provoke unknown impacts; and the Unknown-unknown risks, which are incalculable and may only be addressed through speculation, and imagination. Both these probabilistic and imaginative concepts of risks state that they cannot be fully eliminated, only managed and possibly mitigated. This produces a powerful mechanism for increasing the demand for security and risk assessment services.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo [2016/24525-3].

Notes on contributors

Alcides Eduardo Dos Reis Peron

Alcides Eduardo dos Reis Peron Is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Sociology of the University of São Paulo (USP). He received his PhD and his Master’s Degree in Technological and Scientific Policy from Unicamp. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs, and in Economics from Facamp. Peron is also a Member of the Latin American Network of Surveillance, Technology and Society Studies (Lavits), of the Centre for Studies and International Analysis (NEAI - Unicamp, PUC, Unesp).

Tomaz Oliveira Paoliello

Tomaz Oliveira Paoliello is an Assistant Professor at the International Relations Department - Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP) and a Visiting Fellow at the LSE Latin America and Caribbean Centre. He holds an MA and a PhD degree in Peace and Security Studies from the San Tiago Dantas International Relations Postgraduate Program (UNESP/UNICAMP/PUC-SP). He currently coordinates the Transnational Security Studies Center - NETS at PUC-SP and is a researcher for the Security Governance Studies Laboratory – LEGS at UEL and for the National Institute of Science and Technology for Studies on the United States (INCT-INEU).