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Organized crime, the militarization of public security, and the debate on the “new” police model in Mexico

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Abstract

After the recognition in Mexico of a situation characterized by violence involving both non-state actors (mainly drug lords) and the state apparatus, the present research critically analyzes both the national security strategy adopted by President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa (2006–2012), which is based on the process of the militarization of public security, as well as the “new” police model proposed by the executive power that seeks to professionalize law enforcement agencies.

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Notes

  1. Around 10 % of the deaths caused by the organized crime correspond to police officers (22 % federal, 34 % state and 44 % municipal) and approximately 1 % belong to the armed forces; see, “Elementos de seguridad muertos de diciembre 2006 a julio 2010”, in, Genaro García Luna, Nuevo modelo policial, Foro de Puerto Vallarta, august 2010, page 22. Available in; http://seplan.app.jalisco.gob.mx/seguridad/sites/default/files/1.-%20SSPf%20Ing%20Genaro%20Garcia%20Luna.pdf.

  2. See, for example, Newspaper “El Financiero”, Mexico, May 14th 2012, Violence in Mexico, struggle between cartels; available in, http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=19863:violencia-en-m%C3%A9xico-por-batalla-entre-c%C3%A1rteles-poir%C3%A9&Itemid=26.

  3. French journalist and politician that as Prime Minister (1917–1920) called for national unity to beat Germany and later on imposed the conditions of the Versailles Treaty; for further details see http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/c/clemenceau.htm. In relation to the famous phrase see http://www.literato.es/autor/georges_clemenceau/.

  4. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), “Elementos para la Construcción de una Política de Estado para la Seguridad y la Justicia en Democracia”, August 2011, available in http://www.cacjuriquilla.unam.mx/Documentos/propuesta_unam.pdf.

  5. See, for example, Newspaper El Universal, “Continuarán diálogos sobre seguridad: Blake”, Mexico, August 16th 2010; available in, http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/702095.html.

  6. This author also argues that: “the military profession is a subject of particular interest in the field of military sociology as the most dramatic aspect of the human beings is institutionalized, this is the resolution of conflicts through violence.”

  7. Closing speech for the Seminar on police functions organized by School on Security in collaboration with the Professional Association of the Magistrature: presented by Javier Caballero Martínez Adviser of Presidence, Justice and Interior of Navarra, available in http://www.google.com.mx/search?hl=es&q=Profesion+policial&btnG=Buscar&meta=.

  8. War and the conduct of hostilities are regulated by International Humanitarian Law.

  9. International instruments including human rights treaties are signed by the Executive branch and approved by the Senate to incorporate these into the Mexican legal regime.

  10. See: http://mx.starmedia.com/noticias/politica/mexico_198794.html (checked on August 30th 2010).

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Correspondence to Marcos Pablo Moloeznik.

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Moloeznik, M.P. Organized crime, the militarization of public security, and the debate on the “new” police model in Mexico. Trends Organ Crim 16, 177–194 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-013-9186-4

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