Municipal police and organized crime. The case of Michoacán, México

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12957/rqi.2019.39514

Palavras-chave:

Mexico, Michoacán, Police, Legitimacy

Resumo

This article analyzes the functions performed by municipal police to contain criminal activity in the state of Michoacán, Mexico; specifically in the ‘Hotlands’ (Tierra Caliente) in the 2000-2017 period. Using an ethnographic approach based on 35 in-depth interviews with key figures at the municipal level, we found that the police have been unable to control the advance of criminal activity. To make matters worse, there are cases in which they have become allies of delinquent groups. The lack of legitimacy of the police explains to a large extent their inefficiency. The study suggests that the only way out of the crisis of legitimacy facing municipal police forces is to strengthen the rule-of-law, consolidate democratic structures, and have the police adopt the role of mediators in social conflicts. Implementing structural solutions designed to improve the functioning of police in Mexico also demands enhancing the quality of the country’s democracy at the municipal level.

Biografia do Autor

Jerjes Aguirre Ochoa, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

El Doctor Jerjes Aguirre Ochoa es Investigador de Tiempo completo con especialidad en sociología del crimen. Tiene estudios de Doctorado en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) y el Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). Ha publicado mas de 20 libros en revistas de arbitraje estricto, ademas de mas 10 libros. Han realizado diversos proyectos de investigación con financiamiento externo y diversas actividades de vinculación como asesorías a entidades gubernamentales y publicas. Es miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores desde 2003 y revisor editorial de diversas publicaciones internacionales.

Hugo Amador Herrera Torres, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Profesor e investigador de tiempo completo en la Facultad de Economía de la UMSNH, miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (México), tiene Perfil Deseable PROMEP (SEP), miembro del Sistema Estatal de Investigadores del Consejo Estatal de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación del Estado de Michoacán, responsable de cuerpo académico sobre políticas de desarrollo (en consolidación), y cursa el Doctorado en Economía en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

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Publicado

2020-02-28

Como Citar

Ochoa, J. A., & Herrera Torres, H. A. (2020). Municipal police and organized crime. The case of Michoacán, México. REVISTA QUAESTIO IURIS, 12(2), 225–239. https://doi.org/10.12957/rqi.2019.39514

Edição

v. 12 n. 2 (2019): REVISTA QUAESTIO IURIS - VOL. 12, N°02

Seção

ARTIGOS/ARTICLES

Licença

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