‘Acendendo as luzes da ciência para iluminar o caminho do progresso’ : ensaio de antropologia simétrica da lei de biossegurança brasileira

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Departamento de Antropologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Antropologia Social, 2006.Esta dissertação toma como objeto de uma etnografia documental a tramitação do Projeto de Lei de Biossegurança no Congresso Nacional brasileiro, entre outubro de 2003 e março de 2005. O Projeto, responsável por regulamentar a pesquisa e comercialização dos organismos geneticamente modificados (OGMs) e o uso de embriões para a pesquisa com células-tronco embrionárias (CTEs) no país, foi acompanhado a partir de um olhar inspirado na perspectiva simétrica de Bruno Latour. Tendo como ponto de partida as relações entre ciência e política no contexto contemporâneo das novas biotecnologias - marcado pelo risco e pela incerteza enquanto base ontológica, e pela precaução enquanto diretriz normativa -, enfatizamos a participação dos experts no processo legislativo. Através da análise dos discursos proferidos nas arenas de deliberação formais - plenário, audiências públicas, comissões - buscamos delinear os grupos em oposição no Congresso, tomando as negociações entre eles como um exemplo do "reordenamento da hierarquia dos seres" que se dá em contextos de crise de objetividade na ciência. Vimos como o discurso vencedor trabalhou, no caso dos transgênicos como das células-tronco, com uma equação pragmática de custo-benefício, bem como através da produção de repetidos fatos consumados, para impor à Lei uma face final mais maleável a um outro "dado", que mostrou-se mais intocável que a própria "natureza", concebida em sua acepção moderna: o progresso tecnológico e econômico. __________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis dissertation takes as the object of a documental ethnography the legislative appreciation of the Brazilian Biosafety Bill, between October 2003, and March 2005. The construction of this Bill of Law, responsible for regulating research and trade of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well as the use of frozen embryos as ‘raw material’ for embryonic stem cell (ESC) research, was glanced at from a symmetrical perspective in a dialogue with Bruno Latour. By focusing on the role of experts in the legislative process, I aimed at identifying how the relations between science and politics stood within a context of ‘crisis of objectivity’ in science – precisely, the universe of biosafety. By analyzing the discourses uttered within the formal deliberation arenas, the opposing groups in the Federal Congress and its main arguments were outlined. I saw these negotiations as an instance of the ‘reordering of hierarchies’ which occurs whence science is no longer able to definitely establish the ‘essential limits’ of entities such as transgenic organisms, stem cells, and exutero human embryos. In the Brazilian case, the winning discourse resorted to, in both cases (GMOs and ESCs), a cost-benefit pragmatic equation, as well as a fait accompli strategy, in order to adapt the final Bill to another ‘given’, which appeared as far more untouchable than ‘nature’ itself: economic and technological progress

An attuned discourse: the catholic episcopate on 'politics' and the 'social'

This article analyzes the relations of Brazil's Catholic bishops and their position, as a representative group, regarding "political" and "social" issues. The purpose of the study is twofold: it seeks to shed light on the logic of the mechanisms shaping the representations of the Brazilian high clergy as a homogeneous group responsible for elaborating univocal messages to a heterogeneous public; and to apprehend a vast set of strategies for crafting and presenting official discourses well-adapted to both Brazil's and the world's realities, as a way of legitimizing the Church as an authority on a vast array of subjects

We, the others: construction of the exotic and consumption of brazilian fashion in France

This article discusses the consumption of Brazilian products - especially fashion and clothing - in France as a way of consuming the exotic. Drawing on ten months of fieldwork in France, I engage data collected there with my experience from previous research carried out in Brazil. Firstly, this article discusses exoticism, a topic that invariably broaches a debate about identity and alterity. Then, some particularities of "consuming the other" in French discourses about Brazilian products are analyzed. Finally, I conclude that the construction of Brazilian fashion as exoticism is simultaneously situated in the French imaginary about the Brazilian other and in the very Brazilian production of garment fashion

'The confucian ethic and the spirit of capitalism': narratives on morals, harmony, and savings in the condemnation of conspicuous consumption among chinese immigrants overseas

From a reflection on market and consumption changes in contemporary China, this article discusses the Chinese diaspora's role in rediscovering "traditional" values, especially those related to notions of harmony, hard work and savings, based on the religious and philosophic Confucian heritage. If, on one hand, we observe today deep consumerism among the young generations living in China, on the other hand, the denial of conspicuous consumption appears as a distinctive feature among Chinese immigrants living in Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), where they work as importers and distributors of goods made in China. Due to these characteristics, I outline a comparison with the Calvinist ethic as analyzed by Max Weber, drawing approaches and differences between Protestantism and Confucianism regarding conspicuous spending, work ethic and wealth accumulation