Biopolítica e antitabagismo: a estatização da luta contra o hábito de fumar no Brasil e as relações fumantes – não fumantes em Maceió

Abstract

The research intends to analyze the inter-relationship between two moments of the anti-smoking fight perpetrate in Brazil: 1 - the arrival and diffusion in the country - especially from the beginning of the 20th century, of the scientific-religious debate and, afterward, of the works of the Anglo-American scientists about the health problems related to first and second hand smoking. Once We took these references, We tried to relate them to the process of the institutionalization of the anti-smoking precepts in Brazil States; 2 - the combat strategies against tobacco derivate from that dynamics, as well as from the resulting influence over the rise of symbolical templates that cause socio and psychological restraints to smokers in the Brazilian society at the post-intitutionalization of the anti smoking policies era. Our intention was to evidence some of the main actors introduced in this dynamics, once they could make the Federal Government enjoy the anti-tobacco cause, including its agenda anddirections proposesd by the international movement, headed by World Health Organization. From there on, we intended to comprehend the impact of this symbolical dynamics lined by anti-smoking policies and the roles that they started to act – specially after the sedimentation of the concept of second hand smoke – on the different social contexts of mutual living, where the usage of cigarettes are restricted. In order to make that, We used data extracted from the interviews We made with volunteers of some mutual support groups promoted by the Programa Nacional de Controle do Tabagismo that work in a public hospital of the town of Maceió, Alagoas state.