The reform of police organizations in Brazil through the perspective of Organizational Studies

Abstract

The first studies on public security as an organizational field in Brazil emerged in Social Sciences in the 1980s. Discussions on the central role of police organizations in contemporary society and studies about the reform of these institutions have required robust epistemological interactions. In this sense, Organizational Studies may contribute to enlightening the debate, offering insights into four fundamental categories: technology, use of force, culture and behavior, and minority groups. On the one hand, the dominant approach in the Social Sciences considers the police as a mere repressive and violent state apparatus, while on the other hand, the production of knowledge within the police follows a totally instrumental and little reflective approach. In our view, Organizational Studies can align with the Social Sciences’ reformist and professionalizing approaches when studying police organizations, offering a more reflective path so these institutions can expand the production of internal knowledge and improve their overall operation in Brazil.