Beyond Drugs, Smuggling and Trafficking: Violence, Victimization and Community Action in Mexico's Criminal Landscape

Graphic depictions of crime in Mexico are often based on media representations and scholarly work that lack evidence and contextual analysis. This collection of essays showcases community-based research efforts to examine practices like kidnapping, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, sex work, and citizen-led forensics in Mexico, providing a re-assessment of Mexicos organized crime rhetoric and outlining a pathway for critical empirical research.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 110 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Graphic portrayals of criminal activity in Mexico permeate the global imagination, fueled not only by media representations but also by a substantial body of scholarship that perpetuates grotesque, simplistic characterizations of Mexicos people, cities, and towns as inherently violent and crime-ridden. These representations, however, often lack evidence and fail to undertake crucial contextual analyses, not to mention overlook the perspectives of the individuals involved in the research development process.

This collection of essays showcases how community-based research initiatives in Mexico can effectively address methodological and conceptual gaps prevalent in the dominant narrative of organized crime in the country. By examining practices such as kidnapping, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, sex work, and citizen-led forensics, these essays provide valuable insights into the complexities of illicit and criminalized practices. This accessible volume offers a much-needed re-evaluation of Mexicos organized crime rhetoric and provides a roadmap for those interested in conducting critical empirical research on these topics.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal Victims & Offenders.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367714987