Politics, Violence and Organized Crime in Latin America

The Politics, Violence, and Organized Crime in Latin America panel proposes two central themes for participation in the 2025 Congress. On one hand, it aims to analyze the issue of the relationship between democratic processes and the armed forces in Latin America, which has been a subject of debate both within and outside the region, where a variety of situations can be observed. In recent years, intense political polarization within and between Latin American states has combined with the rise to power in some countries of political parties ideologically opposed to their predecessors, leading to a reemergence of the military in politics in various countries. This scenario is further complicated by the rise of transnational threats and risks, which have led to the decision to employ armed institutions and expand their missions to non-traditional tasks, as well as a renewed presence and activity of non-regional countries in the region.
The second focus corresponds to the study of the dynamics of organized crime networks and the responses of States to this threat. In this sense, it is proposed to explore the causes, manifestations, and ideas of regional (in)security. This complex issue has emerged with central importance during a moment of tension in the contemporary political process, particularly in Latin America.
Unlike other regions of the world where populist challenges and the erosion of democracy have been occurring since the early 2010s, social violence was already high in Latin America; for example, 43 of the 50 most violent cities in the world are in the region, and criminal violence has been worsening alongside various manifestations and articulations of criminal networks. Latin America requires long-term policies; this panel discusses how effective or ineffective current strategies of militarization, challenges to liberal economic policies and democracy, reduction of corruption, and strengthening of the rule of law are in managing and combating transnational organized crime.