Overview

One of the most surprising developments in Mexico's transition to democracy is the outbreak of criminal wars and large-scale criminal violence. Why did Mexican drug cartels go to war as the country transitioned away from one-party rule? And why have criminal wars proliferated as democracy has consolidated and elections have become more competitive subnationally? In Votes, Drugs, and Violence, Guillermo Trejo and Sandra Ley develop a political theory of criminal violence in weak democracies that elucidates how democratic politics and the fragmentation of power fundamentally shape cartels' incentives for war and peace. Drawing on in-depth case studies and statistical analysis spanning more than two decades and multiple levels of government, Trejo and Ley show that electoral competition and partisan conflict were key drivers of the outbreak of Mexico's crime wars, the intensification of violence, and the expansion of war and violence to the spheres of local politics and civil society.

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9781108841740

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Reviews

'This brilliant book offers a novel and needed theory of criminal violence that emphasizes the crucial role of politics. The authors explain why transitions from authoritarianism to democracy often lead to high levels of criminal violence, and identify the conditions for the onset and escalation of criminal wars as well as for the victimization of local authorities and politicians. The empirical chapters, which combine statistical analyses and case studies, offer compelling evidence of the effects of political change on criminal violence. At the same time, the book is a profound analysis of the devastating criminal wars that Mexico has endured over the previous decades.' Ana Arjona, Northwestern University 'Trejo and Ley have crafted a sophisticated theory that stands out for its clarity, careful construction of arguments, vast data collected, and variety of research methods employed. By focusing on the role of violent specialists and on the gray zone of criminality, Votes, Drugs, and Violence not only provides a comprehensive narrative about the tragic escalation of violence in Mexico since 2006, but also expands our understanding of how criminals and states interact.' Angelica Duran-Martinez, University of Massachusetts, Lowell 'Trejo and Ley's Votes, Drugs, and Violence provides critical new insights into the phenomenon of criminal governance. The authors offer a rich and compelling account of how interactions between criminal groups and the state promote varied patterns of violence in Mexico. The book is an essential addition to the literature on criminal violence and conflict in Latin America.' Desmond Arias, Baruch College, CUNY

Author Information

Guillermo Trejo is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame and Director of the Violence and Transitional Justice Lab at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. He studies political and criminal violence, social movements, and human rights. He is the author of Popular Movements in Autocracies: Religion, Repression, and Indigenous Collective Action in Mexico (2012). Sandra Ley is Assistant Professor at CIDE's Political Studies Division in Mexico City. She studies criminal violence and political behavior.

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