Citizens against Crime and Violence: Societal Responses in Mexico

Citizens against Crime and Violence is a study that looks at societal responses to crime and violence in Michoacán, Mexico, including local citizen security councils, cultural activists, organizations in the state capital, church-linked initiatives, and womens organizations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 17 June 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Mexico has earned a notorious reputation for its high levels of crime-related violence, which have proven challenging to address through the efforts of both national and international NGOs. To better understand the societal responses to this violence in one of Mexico's most affected regions, the state of Michoacán, Citizens against Crime and Violence conducted a comprehensive study spanning twelve months. This study involved a team of anthropologists and sociologists who conducted comparative ethnography across six localities in Michoacán, ranging from rural to urban areas. The contributors analyzed five distinct types of societal responses to crime and violence:
1. Local Citizen Security Councils: These councils are formed by local citizens who come together to define security and attempt to influence its policing. They include self-defense groups that act as a deterrent to criminal activity and provide support to victims.
2. Cultural Activists: Cultural activists are individuals or groups who strive to create safe cultural fields from which to transform their social environment. They organize events, festivals, and workshops that promote social cohesion, cultural understanding, and peace.
3. Organizations in the State Capital: These organizations combine legal and political strategies to address less visible forms of violence, such as forced disappearance, gender violence, and anti-LGBT discrimination. They work to hold the state accountable for its actions and advocate for the rights of marginalized communities.
4. Church-Linked Initiatives: Church-linked initiatives involve religious institutions and organizations working together to denounce state capture and promote social justice. They use their institutional power and influence to advocate for the rights of the poor and vulnerable and to address issues of corruption and inequality.
5. Womens Organizations: Womens organizations are created to provide safe networks for women to influence violence prevention. They offer support, education, and resources to women who have experienced violence and work to promote gender equality and social change.

Through their analysis, the contributors to Citizens against Crime and Violence shed light on the diverse and innovative ways in which individuals and communities are responding to crime and violence in Michoacán. These responses demonstrate the resilience and creativity of the Mexican people in the face of adversity and highlight the importance of community-based initiatives and collaboration in addressing this complex issue.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978827639