When I was a little girl, my father had to go on a one month business trip to Mexico. When he returned, he came back telling stories of the laid-back attitude, delicious food, and warm hospitality, only made more beautiful by the pictures he brought back with him, and tales of new friends he had made. At this time, the mention of Mexico brought to mind fiestas and siestas, burritos and burros, sombreros and sangria. I made up my mind then, that Mexico was a destination I would one day fully explore. Unfortunately, when I had the opportunity to visit with my husband, he was told by the military that he was not allowed to go over the border. This was the start of the Mexico that exists today- riddled by drug cartels, violence, and brutality.
It is currently impossible to read the daily news without hearing a mention of the terrifying and violent drug wars across the border. According to statistics provided by the LA Times, approximately 28,228 drug war related deaths have occurred since January 2007. Despite a military led “crackdown,” the cartels are seizing control of the state, having spread their criminal behavior to include extortion, kidnapping, and migrant smuggling, with murders of politicians and police occurring at alarming and overwhelming rates (Wilkinson, 2010). President Calderon himself is quoted as stating, “"This criminal behavior is what has changed, and become a challenge to the state, an attempt to replace the state." While drug trafficking related violence is sadly nothing new, the Mexican drug cartels have taken brutality to a new level, with groups such as La Fimilia and the Zetas beheading and dismembering rivals and stringing up their corpses in public areas to make a statement. Additionally, these cartels possess military-class weaponry smuggled from the United States, and have even denotated car bombs in attacks on Mexican police.
The brutality is not only a terror to citizens, but is in many ways facilitating a breakdown in Mexico’s government. Mayors are killed routinely, and the criminal groups have even caused Pemex, the state oil company and top national income provider, to shut down (Wilkinson, 2010).
The influence of Mexican drug cartels is not only an issue that applies within their borders- much of the trafficking sends drugs over the border into the United States. In addition, a recent report shows that the influence has expanded to other Latin American countries, with Gen. Miguel Hidalgo, Peru’s top anti-narcotics official citing 32 arrests of Mexican cartel members within two years (Kraul, 2009).
There are many ways in which to analyze the drug cartels in Mexico. They follow a pattern of hierarchal organization, as well as networks of acquaintances that facilitate the criminal behavior—for example, drug cartels often employ business men and police in a corrupt manner. The unavoidable and undeniable presence of the cartels creates a culture of unlawfulness, and infiltrates the country. This can be seen by the fact that the Mexican government is powerless in comparison. This can also be viewed as an interesting reversal of conflict theory, in which the group in power aims to stay in power- in this situation, it seems as though the metaphorical "proletariat" has, in a way, seized control and found a way in which to overturn the group in power. It can also be seen as a way of trespassing economic determinism through the use of deviance. The existence of cartels have also drastically changed the norms within Mexico-- the violence that has become a daily occurrence within the country has changed the way in which citizens behave and the tourism industry, which has dropped significantly since tourists have been taken hostage or kidnapped. In a strange application, one can view the relationship between the cartels and the Mexican government as a twisted application of the power-differential theory.
This recent problem in Mexico is intriguing, in that it raises many questions regarding how such a war could occur, and escalate, within such a short period of time. Considering Mexico’s previous economy, it might be possible that relative deprivation within the country has caused cartels to try to even the score. Equally possible, it could be the effects of deviance within society. When will it end?
Kraul, C. "Mexico's drug lords look south." Los Angeles Times. March 25, 2009.
Wilkinson, T. "Mexican drug cartels thrive despite Calderon's offense." Los Angeles Times. August 8, 2010.
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