Crime in Latin America - Essay Example

CRIME IN LATIN AMERICA Crime and Violence have become rampant in Latin America. The two predicaments are affecting a vast population. The crisis has considerably hit countries such as El Salvador, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Studies and research consider social inequality as the key contributing factor to the high rate of crime and violence in the region (Arias 2011). In addition, numerous studies indicate the occurrence of the epidemic in the Central America. Besides, the national governments have consistently failed to prevent crime therefore organized crimes have continued to control the state. Organized criminal activities have been prosperous in nations that are weak. These weaknesses characterize Caribbean and Latin America in addition to the illegal drug market has transformed the countries to into international criminal businesses (Rodgers and Muggah 2009). The rapid insertion of Caribbean and Latin America in the global economy at the end of Cold War, which was characterized by fiscal austerity and rigorous reduction of the nation (Arias 2011). Consequently, in the nineties these states lacked adequate financial resources and other relevant institutions to curb the growth and the expansion of violence and criminal activities in their territories (Jütersonke, Muggah, and Rodgers 2009). Globalization has created the ideal environment for the rapid spread and penetration of crime in the region (Meyer and Seelke 2011). Based on a competitive report of the United Nations, there are various causes of the highlighted specific issues, ideas, and problems that are associated with the high rate of crimes in Latin America (Dudley 2010). The geographical position of Latin America plays a critical role in determining the levels of criminal and violence rates in these regions. The High rate of crime in Central America is associated with the strategic location of the drug suppliers and the nations that demand drugs. Studies provide an explanation for the existence of a direct correlation between criminal violence and drug trafficking. It is, therefore, logical to associate the high rate of crime in Latin America to the incidences of drug trafficking in the region. Moreover, Latin America proximity to US makes it a typical corridor for trafficking of people and firearms (Meyer and Seelke 2011). The geographical position of Latin America provides a critical explanation for the disparity of wealth between Central America and the United States. Lots of money are made in the US black market through illegal drug and weapon trafficking boost criminal activities. In addition, fighting illicit trade redirects limited criminal justice. Social, demographic and economic vulnerabilities in Latin America is connected to the crime. It is believed that most of the criminal activities in Latin America are committed by young women and men aged between 15 and 24 years old. Most of the population in Central America comprises the peers who are desperately seeking means of life, Therefore, the higher the demographic concentration of the age group the higher the rate of criminal activities (Arias 2011). Additionally, the small economic distribution of resources is considered to spur the occurrence of criminal activities in the region (Jütersonke, Muggah, and Rodgers 2009). Studies correlate the distribution of resources and wealth in a community to the poverty levels in Latin America nations. These raw poverty levels are critical in determining the levels of violence and criminal activities (Meyer and Seelke 2011). In regard, there exist limited capabilities for criminal justice in Latin America countries. The exceedingly high criminal and violence rates in Latin America are centered on the inability of the governments to implement and enforce laws and ensure its compliance (Dudley 2010). Moreover, laws regarding the protection of witnesses and ensure the criminals are charged in accordance with the laws. Traditional hiccoughs and lingering suspicions have promoted the occurrence of crime and violence (Jütersonke, Muggah, and Rodgers 2009). High level of corruption has derailed the process of criminal justice in Latin America. These moralities and justice void caused by state corruption and incapability are always filled with gangs, vigilantes, and local power brokers. These strongmen always push out violently terrorizing new area causing clashes with the locals and the state. These locals are preferred when questions regarding the rule of law arise (Jütersonke, Muggah, and Rodgers 2009). For instance, the battle of drug lords and cartels more so in Guatemala and the ethnic cleansing are involved in some sufferance of the state. Of great concern, displacement and deportation have played an enormous role in the enhancement of crime and violence in Latin America. Many Diaspora of Central America origins reached the United States and found a refuge in the country. These refugees who were extremely poor flee from the Central America during the 1980s civil wars. It is believed that the Caribbean \and the Central America crime troubles are directly linked to the criminal deportees (Dudley 2010). Policy makers and researchers assert that the criminal deportation of a huge group of illegal immigrants with criminal backdrop engulfs their justice capabilities and additionally causes destabilization of the region (Rodgers and Muggah 2009). Latin America history of authoritarianism and conflicts is linked to the existence of crime and violence in the region. The High rate of crime in Latin America is associated with war-like mindset, psychological trauma, weak state ability and legitimacy and police inheritances of Latin America civil wars (Jütersonke, Muggah, and Rodgers 2009). Moreover, certain studies indicate that violence and criminal act can be normalized in societies where several people have been a subject of brutality and can be tacitly considered as legal ways of solving and settling disputes in situations where the governments are viewed as corrupt, incompetent and biased (Dudley 2010). Latin America is hugely impacted by various criminal acts that happen in the region. First, organized crimes produce a wide range of different damages to individual, business and communities, institutions, and the national government. Damages on individuals are mostly through human trafficking. In addition, there are damages done to the public health system as a result of the diseases and illness caused by drugs such as cocaine, heroine and the spread of HIV/AIDs (Dudley 2010). Organized crimes affect the operation of the business as it is associated with fraud, privacy, and it influences the commercial and exchange competition. It is because it is highly difficult for a legal business to compete with subsidized prices for exchanged goods. Moreover, a damage that exists in the States and the institutions are greater and has an enormous impact on the percentage of Gross Domestic Prices (Meyer and Seelke 2011). These costs affect the general operation of the business. Insecurity and danger due to organized crime affect the doings of a community that makes it impossible for people to coexist peacefully (Rodgers and Muggah 2009). Politics and its connection with money affect the quality of democracy of a particular country. Financing of parties campaigns during elections periods is critical levels in which crime exerts influence. In the contemporary society, this type of crime has impacted the political systems causing great loopholes for political leaders to inject money during campaigns. It, therefore, discourages democracy and transparency regarding the election of leaders (Meyer and Seelke 2011). Crime in Latin America has therefore had greater influence in the determination of electoral campaign the general performance and voting systems in the region (Meyer and Seelke 2011). Many voters are denied the opportunity to elect their leaders through violence and criminal act. There is a direct link to criminal activities with the level of corruption in a particular region. Criminal activities directly impact economic health and the democratic in institutions in the Caribbean countries and Latin America (Jütersonke, Muggah, and Rodgers 2009). Corruption impacts both the public and the private sectors and is considered the greatest erosion factors for the rule of law and the high discrimination levels present in the Latin America. Transparency International data relates the high corruption level in Latin America to democratic institutions and the high government issues. Countries such as Haiti, Bolivia and Paraguay have the lowest level of corruption due to minimal crimes. Furthermore, there is a tendency to associate criminal activities to high poverty levels that, therefore, have an erosion effect on their precarious institutional system (Arias 2011). Recently the fight of corruption is acquiring greater political importance. Organized crimes in the Latin America have promoted cyber theft. Globalization has grown tremendously over the centuries. However, with increase criminal activities in Latin America there has been a rapid rise in cyber crime. These vulnerabilities and risks have impacted cyber security affecting privacy and the general global stability resulting in several companies’ losses and individual losses in commercial markets around Latin America (Jütersonke, Muggah, and Rodgers 2009). The rise of criminal activities in Latin America has promoted the illegal trafficking of plant species and other animals. Even though it looks more attractive, United Nations Environmental Program approximate that close to 2.5 percent of the species in the tropical forest would become extinct by early 2020. In conclusion, conventional patterns of patrimonial domain, patronage, personalism and practical corruption present all over Latin America have made it possible for groups of organized crime to opt to their customary practices of extortion, bribery and intimidation in order to uphold profitable narcotic ventures. Recent the Russians international criminal groups strained to the region. Yet for the nations not inundated in civil disagreements, their illegal trafficking of drugs and arms and their coalition with neighboring criminal gangs increases the fire possibility for violence and crime, making it tougher and treacherous for state officials to manage the circumstances (Arias 2011). As a result, in the future domestic and international criminal groupings could turn into a more intimidating and frightening for the security of the whole region, and even the neighboring countries and states for instance the United States (Felbab-Brown 2009). A successful fighting of the mafia will need enormous institutional restructurings in areas like, money laundering, law enforcement, anti-corruption policies and border control within each nation but also through methodical multilateral collaboration, and the sharing and distribution of intelligence practices among different governmental agencies and institutions on local, regional and global levels. Works Cited ARIAS, E. D. (2011). State Power and Central American Maras: A Cross-national Comparison.‖ In Maras: Gang Violence and Security in Central America, eds. CARVAJAL, R. A. (2014). Violence In Honduras: An Analysis of the Failure in Public Security and the States Response to Criminality. NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA. DUDLEY, S. S. (2010). Drug trafficking organizations in Central America: transportistas, Mexican cartels and maras. SHARED RESPONSIBILITY, 9. FELBAB-BROWN, V. (2009). The violent drug market in Mexico and lessons from Colombia. Brookings Institution. JÜTERSONKE, O., MUGGAH, R., & RODGERS, D. (2009). Gangs, urban violence, and security interventions in Central America. Security Dialogue, 40(4-5), 373-397. MEYER, P. J., & SEELKE, C. R. (2011, MARCH). Central America regional security initiative: background and policy issues for congress. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. RODGERS, D., & MUGGAH, R. (2009). Gangs as non-state armed groups: the Central American case. Contemporary Security Policy, 30(2), 301-317. Read More