NOREF - National and international dimensions of criminal violence in Latin America

Home > Themes > Armed violence and conflict in fragile settings > National and international dimensions of criminal violence in Latin America

Author

Benedicte Bull

Benedicte Bull is associate professor at the Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo, and director of the Norwegian Latin America Research Network (NorLARNet). She holds a PhD in political science from the University of Oslo. She has previously worked as a consultant...
More

Related publications

In the shadows of globalisation: drug violence in Mexico and Central America: Benedicte Bull , 19 December 2011
What makes countries vulnerable to transnational organised crime?: Ivan Briscoe , 28 September 2011
State fragility, organised crime and peacebuilding: towards a more strategic approach: James Cockayne , 15 September 2011
Organised crime, illicit drugs and state vulnerability: Juan Gabriel Tokatlián , 25 April 2011
Noref Report 6 - U.S. Policy toward Latin America after the 5th Summit of the Americas: 12 November 2010
Latin America's Political Economy Post 9/11: 12 November 2010
Youth, armed violence and job creation: Oliver Walton , 13 October 2010

Download full text

National and international dimensions of criminal violence in Latin America

Benedicte Bull , 27 April 2011

Executive summary

Criminal violence has taken on epidemic proportions in several Latin American countries. While the violence has complex causes and expressions, a major reason behind the current surge in levels is the strengthening of transnational criminal organisations (TCOs), most of which are based on illicit drug trafficking. TCOs have fuelled a deepening of multi-faceted state crises, which in some cases may be characterised as the “criminalisation of the state”. The seminar on which this report is based focused on the causes of this wave of violence and policy responses at different levels.

The main conclusion from the seminar was that, while US policy includes an array of measures, it is still heavily focused on military assistance and a “supply-side” approach to curbing the flow of drugs and other illicit goods into the US. National responses have in many cases mirrored this approach, focusing on strengthening police controls and in some cases deploying military forces. Regional responses have so far proven weak, yet there are important initiatives in the pipeline. The idea of an alternative agenda is also gaining support both nationally and regionally. This includes measures to decriminalise the production and possession of soft drugs, bolster police and judicial reform, and focus on treatment and finding alternative livelihoods for growers.