Mexico's Illicit Drug Networks and the State Reaction

by Nathan P. Jones, Nathan P. Jones (Contribution by)

Overview

Mexican drug networks are large and violent, engaging in activities like the trafficking of narcotics, money laundering, extortion, kidnapping, and mass murder. Despite the impact of these activities in Mexico and abroad, these illicit networks are remarkably resilient to state intervention.

Drawing on extensive fieldwork and interviews with US and Mexican law enforcement, government officials, organized crime victims, and criminals, Nathan P. Jones examines the comparative resilience of two basic types of drug networks—“territorial” and “transactional”—that are differentiated by their business strategies and provoke wildly different responses from the state. Transactional networks focus on trafficking and are more likely to collude with the state through corruption, while territorial networks that seek to control territory for the purpose of taxation, extortion, and their own security often trigger a strong backlash from the state.

Timely and authoritative, Mexico's Illicit Drug Networks and the State Reaction provides crucial insight into why Mexico targets some drug networks over others, reassesses the impact of the war on drugs, and proposes new solutions for weak states in their battles with drug networks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626162969
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	04/15/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Nathan P. Jones is a nonresident scholar in drug policy and Mexico studies at the Baker Institute and an assistant professor in the Department of Security Studies at Sam Houston State University.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. The State Reaction and Illicit-Network Resilience
2. The Arellano Félix Organization’s Resilience
3. The State Reaction
4. The Sinaloa Cartel, Los Zetas, and Los Caballeros Templarios

Conclusion

Appendix: Comparison of Territorial versus Transactional Drug-Trafficking Networks

Bibliography

Index

What People are Saying About This

David Shirk

Nathan P. Jones's study of drug trafficking networks in Mexico provides a rich history and insightful analysis of drug trafficking and counter–drug efforts in the Mexican context. Jones examines many of the contemporary questions and debates about how organized crime works and how to combat it, and in so doing brings much needed practical analysis of one of the most urgent challenges facing Mexico and much of Latin America today.

John Bailey

This innovative book makes important theoretical contributions by contrasting drug-trafficking and territorial criminal networks as ideal types and exploring their patterns of interaction with states and civil societies. The middle-range theorizing, backed with solid empirical work, sets out a path to follow to bring the problem of criminality into the mainstream work on quality of democracy in the region.

Steven Dudley

Nathan P. Jones’s deep dive into Mexico’s organized criminal networks—particularly the Tijuana Cartel—is groundbreaking. It gives us a deeper understanding of both crime structures and state responses to them, as they relate to 'transactional' and 'territorial' organizations. As such, Jones’ book helps us turn an important academic, conceptual corner. His book will be a tremendous resource for years to come for those of us who struggle to understand why some criminal groups survive and other dissolve.

From the Publisher

"This innovative book makes important theoretical contributions by contrasting drug-trafficking and territorial criminal networks as ideal types and exploring their patterns of interaction with states and civil societies. The middle-range theorizing, backed with solid empirical work, sets out a path to follow to bring the problem of criminality into the mainstream work on quality of democracy in the region."—John Bailey, Professor Emeritus, Georgetown University

"Nathan Jones shows that drug cartels and illicit networks can organize as territorial or transactional actors. This distinction will facilitate analysis of organized crime and the threat it poses to states for years to come."—John Sullivan, Senior Fellow, Small Wars Journal-El Centro

"Nathan P. Jones's study of drug trafficking networks in Mexico provides a rich history and insightful analysis of drug trafficking and counter–drug efforts in the Mexican context. Jones examines many of the contemporary questions and debates about how organized crime works and how to combat it, and in so doing brings much needed practical analysis of one of the most urgent challenges facing Mexico and much of Latin America today."—David Shirk, Associate Professor, Political Science, University of San Diego

"Nathan Jones' deep dive into Mexico's organized criminal networks—particularly the Tijuana Cartel—is groundbreaking. It gives us a deeper understanding of both crime structures and state responses to them, as they relate to 'transactional' and 'territorial' organizations. As such, Jones' book helps us turn an important academic, conceptual corner. His book will be a tremendous resource for years to come for those of us who struggle to understand why some criminal groups survive and other dissolve."—Steven Dudley, Co-Director, InSightCrime

John Sullivan

Nathan P. Jones shows that drug cartels and illicit networks can organize as territorial or transactional actors. This distinction will facilitate analysis of organized crime and the threat it poses to states for years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Nathan P. Jones....provides an in-depth qualitative look at the relationship between the business strategies of Mexican drug networks (territorial and transactional), the level of risk associated with each model, state reactions to these models, and the level of resilience these organizations have....Jones provides a well-rounded and relevant analysis....its focus remains topical and relevant.

Small Wars & Insurgencies - Layne Dittmann

The author is certainly well positioned to discuss this subject matter and has proven his expertise through his research and analysis. This is an excellent book that addresses how drug networks are targeted through the prism of the state.

Small Wars Journal

This innovative book makes important theoretical contributions by contrasting drug-trafficking and territorial criminal networks as ideal types and exploring their patterns of interaction with states and civil societies. The middle-range theorizing, backed with solid empirical work, sets out a path to follow to bring the problem of criminality into the mainstream work on quality of democracy in the region.

John Bailey

Nathan P. Jones's study of drug trafficking networks in Mexico provides a rich history and insightful analysis of drug trafficking and counter–drug efforts in the Mexican context. Jones examines many of the contemporary questions and debates about how organized crime works and how to combat it, and in so doing brings much needed practical analysis of one of the most urgent challenges facing Mexico and much of Latin America today.

David Shirk

Nathan P. Jones shows that drug cartels and illicit networks can organize as territorial or transactional actors. This distinction will facilitate analysis of organized crime and the threat it poses to states for years to come.

John Sullivan

Nathan P. Jones’s deep dive into Mexico’s organized criminal networks—particularly the Tijuana Cartel—is groundbreaking. It gives us a deeper understanding of both crime structures and state responses to them, as they relate to 'transactional' and 'territorial' organizations. As such, Jones’ book helps us turn an important academic, conceptual corner. His book will be a tremendous resource for years to come for those of us who struggle to understand why some criminal groups survive and other dissolve.

Steven Dudley