This thesis contributes to debates on the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in global governance by asking if their participation in the global response to HIV/AIDS has been transformative – with transformation conceptualized as change towards a more equitable order. Adopting a critical International Relations approach, and applying qualitative methods, it analyzes how CSOs used the initial failure of biomedical responses to the epidemic to advance a human rights frame, which justified their participation in global governance. This frame complemented conceptions of AIDS exceptionalism, and has recently shifted in response to an increased focus on key populations. CSOs continue to advance the rights frame in global institutions – the focus here being on how they have done so within UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. However, rigid bureaucracies and dominant power relationships limit CSOs’ ability to transform these institutions to be more responsive to and representative of those affected by the epidemic. CSOs have further struggled to influence the largest global donors of the HIV/AIDS response – the Global Fund and PEPFAR – to direct greater resources to rights-based initiatives, despite CSO participation in resource mobilization. Though CSO participation has been restricted by donor state power, bureaucratic structures, and changes in the political economy of global health, CSOs have continued to promote potentially transformative alternatives, and so have continued to represent the interests of those most affected by the epidemic. This allows potential for further transformative alternatives.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The present search has with mean aim to examine how AIDS was constructed as a social cause. It investigates more particularly the process by which the disease has become a public issue, for that AIDS was analyzed into its 30 years of struggle, starting with its appearance in the media until the institutionalization of the cause. To reach this goal, bibliographic resources, interviews and internet material were used - namely - collection of magazine, webites that reported the creation of institutions and interviews with informants-key were made to understand the trajectory of militants "sergipanos". The dissertation is divided into three stages, the first is the resumption of an analysis of the emergence of AIDS in Brazil, with the performance of the gay movement, the State interference for prevention and treatment, the creation of NGOs dedicated exclusively to fighting disease and a brief analysis of the trajectory of two militants, Daniel Herbert and Herbert de Souza, important actors in the national political struggle and in this case, more specifically in fighting AIDS as HIV positive. The second point refers to the arrival of AIDS in Sergipe and how it was being handled by the institutions and governments, pioneering actions and measures taken to fight the disease. Finally, the third and final chapter analyzes three modes of engagement in the fight against AIDS, the first through professionalization, then how multi engagement led to fighting AIDS, and finally, how the disease makes a militant arise. Thus, this work may examine the fight against AIDS in a diversity, making a resumption of key moments to understand how AIDS has become a social problem and, how around this problem, has emerged a struggle that became increasingly institutionalized. / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo examinar a construção da AIDS como uma causa social, mais especificamente, como a luta de combate a Aids tornou-se uma bandeira nos movimentos sociais. Trata-se de investigar mais particularmente o processo pelo qual a doença se tornou um problema público e as particularidades envolvidas durante o desenvolvimento da causa. Para cumprir esse objetivo a luta contra Aids foi analisada ao longo dos seus 30 anos, partindo do seu surgimento na mídia até a institucionalização da causa. Para dar conta de tal objetivo foram utilizados recursos bibliográficos, entrevistas, material de internet – a saber – acervo de revista, sites que informavam sobre surgimento de instituições e entrevistas para entender a trajetória percorrida pelos militantes sergipanos na organização do movimento. Essa dissertação está dividida em três momentos: o primeiro consiste na retomada de uma análise sobre o surgimento da Aids no Brasil, a importância da atuação do movimento gay e da interferência do Estado para a prevenção e tratamento da doença, o surgimento de ONGs dedicadas exclusivamente a causa da Aids, e por fim uma breve analise da trajetória de dois militantes, Herbert Daniel e Herbert de Souza, atores importantes na luta política nacional e, nesse caso, mais especificamente, no combate a Aids como soropositivos. O Segundo momento, refere-se à chegada da Aids em Sergipe e como foi sendo tratada pelas instituições e governos, quais medidas adotadas e ações pioneiras no combate à doença. Por fim, o terceiro e último capítulo, analisa três modalidades de engajamento na luta contra a Aids. O primeiro através da profissionalização, o segundo como o multiengajamento que foi fundamental para a entrada no movimento de combate a Aids e por fim, como a doença tem a capacidade de converter pessoas que não tem histórico de engajamento em militantes do combate à Aids. Assim, esse trabalho pode analisar a luta contra a Aids em uma sua diversidade, fazendo uma retomada de momentos fundamentais para compreender como a Aids se tornou um problema social e como ao redor desse problema, foi surgindo uma luta que se tornou cada vez mais institucionalizada.

This thesis contributes to debates on the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in global governance by asking if their participation in the global response to HIV/AIDS has been transformative – with transformation conceptualized as change towards a more equitable order. Adopting a critical International Relations approach, and applying qualitative methods, it analyzes how CSOs used the initial failure of biomedical responses to the epidemic to advance a human rights frame, which justified their participation in global governance. This frame complemented conceptions of AIDS exceptionalism, and has recently shifted in response to an increased focus on key populations. CSOs continue to advance the rights frame in global institutions – the focus here being on how they have done so within UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. However, rigid bureaucracies and dominant power relationships limit CSOs’ ability to transform these institutions to be more responsive to and representative of those affected by the epidemic. CSOs have further struggled to influence the largest global donors of the HIV/AIDS response – the Global Fund and PEPFAR – to direct greater resources to rights-based initiatives, despite CSO participation in resource mobilization. Though CSO participation has been restricted by donor state power, bureaucratic structures, and changes in the political economy of global health, CSOs have continued to promote potentially transformative alternatives, and so have continued to represent the interests of those most affected by the epidemic. This allows potential for further transformative alternatives.