STATE OF EXCEPTION: THE SUPPRESSION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN SITUATIONS OF PUBLIC CALAMITY

Abstract

This article analyzes the theme of the state of exception from a theoretical and interpretative approach, relating concepts from the legal and political fields to the narrative of the work *Blindness*, written by José Saramago. The research aims to understand how crisis situations can lead to the suspension of rights and the fragility of institutions responsible for protecting human dignity. To this end, the study begins with an analysis of the historical and theoretical foundations of the state of exception, based on the contributions of Carl Schmitt and Giorgio Agamben, authors who discuss the limits of the legal order in extraordinary contexts. The research also examines how the literary work symbolically represents the deterioration of social relations and the emergence of power structures in situations of institutional disorganization. The methodology adopted is characterized as bibliographic research in terms of technical procedures, qualitative in terms of approach, basic in terms of nature, and descriptive in terms of objectives. The results indicate that Saramago's narrative highlights the risks associated with the suspension of legal guarantees and the normalization of exceptional practices, demonstrating the importance of preserving fundamental rights and democratic principles even in crisis scenarios.