THE THEORY OF CO-BLAME: MATERIAL EQUALITY AS A DEMOCRATIC STANCE

  • Nestor Eduardo Araruna Santiago Professor Titular do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direito Constitucional e da Graduação em Direito da Universidade de Fortaleza (UNIFOR)
  • Déborah Sousa Braga
Keywords: Democracy, Co-blame, Material Equality, Penal Law

Abstract

Democracy is based on formal and material freedom and equality. It is the government of the people, directly or through representatives, for the common good. The State should take care of individual rights and guarantees by acknowledging the freedom of its citizens (negative rights) but taking responsibility in offering basic services such as health, education and home, In case the State fails in such minimum developmental conditions to all, in contempt of the dignity of the human person, and due to the fact that many convicts had been socially excluded before being imprisoned, the theory of co-blame may be discussed. The social circumstances of each convict should be taken into account to compensate responsibility of the State and society since the latter have failed in the formation of the individuals. Punishment may be mitigated or not meted out. A deductive and qualitative bibliographical analysis will reveal the evolution of the idea of democracy and the importance that public policies to warrant survival conditions. The theory of co-blame will be discussed as a search for material equality and a stand for democracy.

Author Biographies

Nestor Eduardo Araruna Santiago, Professor Titular do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direito Constitucional e da Graduação em Direito da Universidade de Fortaleza (UNIFOR)
Doutor em Direito; Docente Titular do Programa de Pós-graduação em Direito Constitucional e da Graduação em Direito da Universidade de Fortaleza (UNIFOR), Brasil
Déborah Sousa Braga
Mestre em Direito Constitucional pelo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direito Constitucional pela Universidade de Fortaleza (UNIFOR), Brasil
Published
2016-04-29
Section
Doutrinas