Orlando Sabino: sujeito constituído pelas práticas discursivas na ditadura militar no Brasil

Abstract

This research is theoretically and methodologically situated within Foucaultian Discursive Studies (FDS), analyzing the relationship between discourse, power, and truth in the constitution of the subject Orlando Sabino, accused of brutal crimes in the Triângulo Mineiro region during the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964-1985). The overarching objective is to demonstrate how media, legal, and social discourses objectified Sabino as a “monster” and “madman,” sustaining regimes of truth that legitimized his exclusion and incarceration. To achieve this, Michel Foucault’s archaeological-genealogical approach is employed to examine historical conditions, discursive practices, and power-knowledge relations. The corpus includes articles from Veja magazine (1972), editions of Jornal do Brasil (1972-1973), and books such as Operação Anti-guerrilha (Borges, 1979) and O Monstro de Capinópolis (Popó, 2011). The methodology of trajeto temático (thematic trajectory, Guilhaumou & Maldidier, 1997) identifies discursive regularities across four axes: (1) the murderer, (2) the monster/devil, (3) the pathological madman, and (4) the silenced innocent. Results highlight that Sabino’s construction as a monstrous figure was tied to the political interests of the military regime, which exploited his case to divert attention from state violence. The media reinforced racialized and classist stereotypes (Sabino was Black, poor, and illiterate), while questionable psychiatric reports justified his 38-year confinement in the Barbacena-MG Forensic Asylum, despite a lack of conclusive evidence. The analysis demonstrates how hegemonic discourses produced “truths” that naturalized his exclusion, while dissenting voices (such as the Truth Commission) emerged later to challenge official narratives. This power-knowledge dynamic operated through the demarcation of normal/abnormal, sustaining social control mechanisms typical of authoritarian contexts. The case illustrates how regimes of truth are historically constructed to serve specific political agendas. The study contributes to discursive studies by articulating Foucaultian theory with the analysis of an infamous subject, underscoring the persistence of stigmas linked to race, class, and mental health in Brazilian society. Sabino’s stigmatization resonates with contemporary practices of criminalizing marginalized groups (immigrants, Black people, LGBTQIA+, activists), who are portrayed as threats to legitimize violence and suppress rights. Thus, Sabino’s construction as a “monster” integrates a repertoire of power that persists in democratic societies, where stereotypes and fear are mobilized to consolidate hierarchies and mask structural crises. The thesis posits: the Brazilian military regime consolidated its power through political manipulation, combining repressive police practices and strategic discourses to fabricate enemies—from marginalized figures like Orlando Sabino to political opponents like communist guerrillas—without evidence or thorough investigations. By instrumentalizing public fear and insecurity, the authoritarian regime justified violent repression, social control, and the maintenance of its authority, revealing how symbolic scapegoating served authoritarian interests and perpetuated a state of exception. The continuities between the dictatorial past and the present underscore the urgency of resisting discourses that dehumanize and silence, preventing the resurgence of authoritarianism in new forms.