From counterinsurgency to law-and-order operations: an analysis of social civic actions implemented by the Brazilian Army

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the content of social civic actions (ACISO, ações cívico-sociais) in contemporary Brazil by placing the developmental role of the Brazilian Army into a historical perspective. I describe a history of implementing social civic actions in two moments: military regime (1964–1985) and democracy (1985-present). The research further describes the geographical dimension, target population, settlement, and activities implemented by the Brazilian Army in democratic Brazil based on a dataset of ACISOS. The paper concludes ACISOS changed from actions to help fight and eliminate guerrillas to activities to ensure the population’s support towards many military objectives in contemporary operations, including counter drugs operations. Yet, the emphasis on providing public services and goods to the popular classes and the search to promote military values in society are important factors of continuity.