Class
Article
Department
Languages, Philosophy and Communication Studies
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Crescencio López-González
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to analyze the interconnections between Mexico’s failed neoliberal state policies, its corrupt military, and the present drug war that plagues the nation. Mexico’s economic transition into a new neoliberal state was supposed to stimulate the economy; however its economic policies backfired, causing an increase in poverty, an upsurge in violence, and instability in its government institutions. By analyzing several recent film documentaries, together with scholarly research, we can see the direct causation of the fall of the neoliberal state and the rise of the drug cartels. My research analyses the documentaries Cartel Land by Matthew Heineman, Narco Cultura by Shaul Schwarz, Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty by Angus Macqueen and El Chapo: CEO of Crime by Mariana Van Zeller. These documentaries show how the Mexican military has become corrupt, causing the rise and growth of new Mexican cartels that are highly trained in military tactics, generating more casualties to the already high death toll in this drug war with no end in sight. The weakened military state of the government has opened an opportunity for new paramilitary groups who continuously enter into conflict to defend and protect themselves from the Narco State.
Start Date
4-14-2016 1:30 PM
End Date
4-14-2016 2:45 PM
Included in
The Mexican Neoliberal State: The Decentralization of Power and Rise of Narcotraficantes and Paramilitary Groups
The purpose of this research is to analyze the interconnections between Mexico’s failed neoliberal state policies, its corrupt military, and the present drug war that plagues the nation. Mexico’s economic transition into a new neoliberal state was supposed to stimulate the economy; however its economic policies backfired, causing an increase in poverty, an upsurge in violence, and instability in its government institutions. By analyzing several recent film documentaries, together with scholarly research, we can see the direct causation of the fall of the neoliberal state and the rise of the drug cartels. My research analyses the documentaries Cartel Land by Matthew Heineman, Narco Cultura by Shaul Schwarz, Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty by Angus Macqueen and El Chapo: CEO of Crime by Mariana Van Zeller. These documentaries show how the Mexican military has become corrupt, causing the rise and growth of new Mexican cartels that are highly trained in military tactics, generating more casualties to the already high death toll in this drug war with no end in sight. The weakened military state of the government has opened an opportunity for new paramilitary groups who continuously enter into conflict to defend and protect themselves from the Narco State.