INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN MEDIA, SOCIETY AND LEGISLATION: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DISCOURSE ON DRUGS AND THEIR SUBJECTS IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Abstract

The digital book Intersections between Media, Society and Legislation: A Critical Analysis of the Discourse on Drugs and their Subjects in the Field of Social Sciences is a multidisciplinary work that aims to investigate the complex relationships between the media, social structures and legal norms in the context of the debate on drugs. With a critical and in-depth approach, the book seeks to reveal how these three axes — media, society and legislation — intertwine to construct discourses and representations about drugs and the subjects involved in this phenomenon.

The work is intended for researchers, students, professionals in the legal field, communication experts, social scientists and all those interested in understanding the social and political dynamics that permeate the issue of drugs. With accessible but rigorous language, the book offers a detailed and contextualized analysis, contributing to the academic debate and critical reflection on one of the most urgent and controversial issues of contemporary times.

The book is organized into four main axes, each of which addresses specific aspects of the intersection between media, society and legislation in the context of drugs.

In Intersections between Media, Society and Legislation: A Critical Analysis of Discourse on Drugs and their Subjects in the Field of Social Sciences, the book establishes the theoretical and methodological framework for the work, exploring how media discourses, legal norms and social dynamics come together to produce representations about drugs and the subjects who consume or trade them. The critical analysis is based on theories from the Social Sciences, such as social constructivism and discourse theory, to reveal how these discourses influence public policies, social practices and the construction of identities.

The first chapter expands its perspective to include a comparative analysis with the Latin American context, especially the case of countries such as Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. Based on case studies, the text examines how the media and legislation in these countries construct narratives about drugs, often reinforcing stereotypes and stigmas. The analysis also addresses the social and political responses to these narratives, highlighting the differences and similarities with the Brazilian context.

The second chapter, The Behavior of the Media in the Face of the Problematization of Drugs in Brazil, focuses specifically on the role of the Brazilian media in constructing the discourse on drugs. Based on a content analysis of news articles, television programs and advertising campaigns, the text reveals how the media tends to criminalize certain social groups, while naturalizing or making others invisible. The chapter also discusses the impact of these representations on public opinion and on security and health policies.

The last chapter, “The Legal Differentiation between the Figures of the Drug Trafficker and the Drug User”, addresses one of the most controversial aspects of the debate on drugs: the legal distinction between trafficker and user. Based on an analysis of Brazilian legislation, especially Law No. 11,343/2006, the text examines how this distinction is applied in practice and what its social and legal implications are. The chapter also discusses criticisms of this distinction, pointing to the selectivity of the penal system and the criminalization of poverty.

The book combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, using methods such as discourse analysis, case studies, bibliographical review and analysis of legislative and media data. The research is based on diverse sources, including journalistic articles, legal documents, interviews and statistical data, ensuring a comprehensive and multifaceted analysis of the topic.

This digital book stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, which integrates perspectives from the Social Sciences, Communication and Law. By revealing the intersections between media, society and legislation, the book offers an original and relevant contribution to the debate on drugs, questioning hegemonic narratives and proposing new ways of thinking and acting on the topic.

In addition, the book is an invitation to critical reflection on the role of the media and the legal system in the production and reproduction of social inequalities. By highlighting the contradictions and challenges present in the treatment of drugs and their subjects, the book seeks to foster a more informed, fair and humane debate.

Intersections between Media, Society and Legislation: A Critical Analysis of the Discourse on Drugs and their Subjects in the Field of Social Sciences is an essential work for those who wish to understand the complexities of the drug phenomenon in its multiple dimensions. With a rigorous and engaged analysis, the book not only illuminates current challenges, but also points out ways to build more inclusive and equitable policies and discourses. This work is, therefore, essential reading for academics, professionals and all those who seek to understand and transform the social and political dynamics involving drugs and their subjects.

The authors,

Braiam Almeida da Silva

Ademir de Oliveira Rodrigues

Márcio Guedes dos Santos

Deividi Moura Araujo

Fabio Roos Pereira

Lisandro Peres Teixeira