Listening to Sicarios: Narcoviolence in Ciudad Juarez, 2008-2012

The book "Listening to Sicarios" provides unique insights into the lives of paid assassins of Mexico's drug trafficking syndicates, analyzing their interpretations of their actions across four thematic axes: border infrastructures, youth and responsibility, masculinity and sentiment, and ethics. It argues that sicarios follow a career path within a robust criminal corporate infrastructure, understand youthful innocence in relation to adult accountability, express feelings of power and fear, and defend their personal integrity in the face of public discourse.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 125 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Listening to Sicarios delves into the captivating world of paid assassins within Mexico's drug trafficking syndicates, offering unique insights from the perspectives of these assassins themselves. Drawing upon an extraordinary series of ethnographic interviews conducted in the aftermath of the unprecedented levels of narcoviolence witnessed in Ciudad Juárez between 2008 and 2012, this study delves into the intricate ways in which these young men interpret their actions across four key thematic axes: border infrastructures, youth and responsibility, masculinity and sentiment, and ethics: good vs. evil.

The study argues that sicarios navigate a career path within a robust criminal corporate infrastructure, particularly prevalent in Mexican border cities. It further explores how sicarios comprehend the concept of youthful innocence in the context of adult accountability in the realm of violence often perpetrated by young men against other young men. Additionally, it examines the expressions of power and fear that sicarios experience, which can enhance their sense of virility, as well as the feelings of regret and weakness that imply vulnerability. Lastly, the study examines how sicarios defend their personal integrity in the face of a public discourse that often portrays their acts as savage.

Through these profound and thought-provoking interviews, Listening to Sicarios provides a profound exploration of the complex lives and motivations of these paid assassins, shedding light on the intricate web of factors that shape their actions and decisions. It serves as a valuable contribution to our understanding of the dynamics of organized crime and the societal implications of violence in Mexico.

Weight: 194g
Dimension: 148 x 210 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030941208
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022