Abstract

GARCIA, Karina. Four Dimensions of Drug Trafficking Violence in Mexico: How Perpetrators Perceive them?. CONfines relacion. internaci. ciencia política [online]. 2020, vol.16, n.31, pp.33-60.  Epub Jan 22, 2024. ISSN 1870-3569.  https://doi.org/10.46530/cf.vi31/cnfns.n31.p33-60.

This paper examines the narratives of thirty-three former drug traffickers and analyses how they portray drug trafficking violence. Using a discourse analysis approach, this study reveals four different meanings attached to this violence: a) drug trafficking violence as a business; b) violence as the ground rules of drug trafficking; c) drug trafficking violence as a source of adrenaline and empowerment, and; d) drug trafficking violence linked to the cult of the Holy Dead. Identifying and understanding each of these dimensions has significant implications for policy design. As this paper shows, each dimension has distinct origins, and serves a different purpose; therefore, each of them requires a different policy‑making strategy for their containment and prevention.

Keywords : drug trafficking violence; Mexico; War on drugs; discourse.

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