This paper points out the inverse proportional relationship between the democratization process in Brazil during the 1980's and the increasing levels of violence in Brazilian society, as measured by mortality rate statistics. The authors analyze mortality rates from external causes and extend the research to the number of life years lost through violence (according to Arriaga's methodology) for the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area. Comparisons are made with the São Paulo Metropolitan Area, other regions of Brazil and the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. The relationship between violence and the structure of social relations is mapped from a number of specific characteristics observed in Brazil, to provide a basis for a "dense phenomenology" and a causal explanation. Finally, the article proposes greater interdisciplinary research as a means of discovering more about why these changes are occurring and to contribute to a debate on civil rights and affirmative action which might address this public health problem.
Violence; Civil rights; Demography; Rio de Janeiro; São Paulo
