Do preconceito aos crimes de ódio: as marcas da intolerância na metrópole paulista

Abstract

The present study aims to contribute a wider comprehension about intolerance in global metropolis, seeking to offer interpretive possibilities for the identification of its multiple causality through the expansion of interdisciplinary discussions and analysis of the social conditions of their practice. We start with the notion of otherness to observe intolerance as a component of social relations, traversed by the issues brought to light by the characteristics of metropolitan São Paulo and its international integration as a world city, denoting a difficult sociability. Alongside diversity, ethnic and social diversity, economic inequality and access to the city as controlled environment, there have been cases of violence, discrimination, prejudice, racism and xenophobia. Recurrence of such actions has generated concern among the state government thus urging the existence of law enforcement unit specializing in this type of offense, forefront installing in São Paulo the pioneer DECRADI Police Station for Racial and Intolerance Crimes, on which we focus this analysis. The records of police reports were analysed in order to obtain information about victims, perpetrators and the nature of the occurrence, aiming to identify common characteristics that allow for a better understanding of these intolerant manifestations. The results demonstrate this phenomenon as common and ordinary in everyday s life but their causal relations may not be attributed to single expression views. These violent events focus on honor crimes and involve mainly verbal and psychological aggression against "social minorities." Confronting this issue requires further debate about the binary matrix of equality and difference, historical understanding of otherness in order to expand the possibilities of recognition and respect for diversity in societies where inequalities and contradictions are present, and the development of new arguments for constructing policies to promote equality. Rarely discussed in current Sociology such topic encounters dialogue with other areas of knowledge and human sciences such as psychology, philosophy, law and political science