Refúgio e direitos humanos na/da política brasileira: uma análise discursiva de representações sobre refugiados

Abstract

This research falls within the field of Applied Linguistics, more specifically within the French-Brazilian Discourse Analysis tradition, as developed by Michel Pêcheux and Eni Orlandi. The study aims to examine the discursive representations of refugees found in statements made by city council members from the city of Uberlândia/MG, with the goal of questioning the potential impacts of these representations on the living conditions of this population. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five councilors from the 2020-2024 legislative term. The content of these interviews was transcribed and analyzed based on the mapping of recurring discursive representations of refugees present in their statements. The findings point to representations that reinforce an objectifying view of refugees, often associated with labor and productivity, as well as with the need for state control. It is concluded that these representations reproduce legal and political discourses that, while promoting support and inclusion, ultimately reinforce positions of surveillance and subordination, contributing to the political invisibility of this population. In this sense, the research contributes to discourse studies by problematizing the tensions between inclusion and exclusion in representations of refugees, suggesting pathways for the promotion of more inclusive public policies.