A figura do justiceiro e seu impacto na política: uma análise da campanha de Wendel Lagartixa nas redes sociais durante o período eleitoral de 2022 no RN

Abstract

This study analyzes how fear, affect, and punitive discourse are used to construct the image of political figures on digital social media. The research focuses on the campaign of Wendel Lagartixa, a candidate for state deputy in Rio Grande do Norte during the 2022 elections, whose communication strategy was marked by videos featuring aggressive language, strong emotional appeal, and a defense of radical measures against crime. The study examines how the image of a “vigilante” was constructed and mobilized on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Kwai, based on an analysis of 62 videos published between February and October 2022. The methodology employed was Thematic Categorical Content Analysis, according to Bardin (2011), aiming to identify the main themes and discursive strategies used. The theoretical framework includes authors such as Michel Foucault, Zygmunt Bauman, Manuel Castells, and Jesús Martín-Barbero, to discuss the role of social networks in the dissemination of discourses of control, resentment, and symbolic violence. The results indicate that engagement with the content was driven primarily by performative and affective elements, rather than traditional political debate, revealing how the figure of the “vigilante” has become an effective electoral mobilization strategy in contexts marked by insecurity and institutional discredit.