pax mexicana
October 5, 2012 7:25 AM
I'd like to read more about Mexico's narco-war (both the inner workings of the cartels and violence against civilians/journalists/law enforcement). Both articles and books are welcome--nonfiction and journalism preferred, but academic texts OK. English preferred, but Spanish is OK too.
Alma Guillermoprieto's writings in the New York Review of Books are amazing. Unfortunately, many of them are behind a pay wall, but here's a recent example that is available to all.
posted by AwkwardPause at 7:42 AM on October 5, 2012
posted by AwkwardPause at 7:42 AM on October 5, 2012
God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre is personal account of traveling through that section of Mexico. It's interesting because it gives a perspective of the impact of frequent drug cartel violence - how little human life is valued. It's not specifically about narcotráfico, but drug traffickers feature prominently
posted by 26.2 at 7:55 AM on October 5, 2012
posted by 26.2 at 7:55 AM on October 5, 2012
Longform has a pretty good and current overview on Slate
posted by bl1nk at 7:57 AM on October 5, 2012
posted by bl1nk at 7:57 AM on October 5, 2012
Murder City, by Charles Bowden (also the author of Down by the River, mentioned above).
posted by MuffinMan at 8:00 AM on October 5, 2012
posted by MuffinMan at 8:00 AM on October 5, 2012
Sylvia Longmire, a former USAF officer, tracks the developments in Mexico, on her blog Mexico's Drug War.
posted by daksya at 8:12 AM on October 5, 2012
posted by daksya at 8:12 AM on October 5, 2012
This blog (warning: there are some VERY graphic images) was mentioned in a recent thread on the blue titled Mormons vs. Mexican Drug Gangs.
posted by scratch at 9:30 AM on October 5, 2012
posted by scratch at 9:30 AM on October 5, 2012
A couple of things from the London Review of Books: Jonathan Littell reporting from Ciudad Juárez, and a review (this one partly behind a paywall, I'm afraid) by Ben Ehrenreich of a book by Malcolm Beith. There are some entries you may want to look at on their blog, too.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 10:53 AM on October 5, 2012
posted by lapsangsouchong at 10:53 AM on October 5, 2012
While I can't help you directly with your question, you may be interested in how Mexico became a narco nation at all. How America Lost the War on Drugs
Why Mexico is not a failed state and may "benefit" from the drugs.
And, while set in Florida and Miami, I can strongly recommend the documentaries "Cocaine Cowboys" I and II.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 5:59 PM on October 5, 2012
Why Mexico is not a failed state and may "benefit" from the drugs.
And, while set in Florida and Miami, I can strongly recommend the documentaries "Cocaine Cowboys" I and II.
posted by yoyo_nyc at 5:59 PM on October 5, 2012
Read frontera-list, which is curated by Molly Molloy, who edited El Sicario with Charles Bowden.
posted by lukemeister at 10:00 AM on October 6, 2012
posted by lukemeister at 10:00 AM on October 6, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
by William Finnegan July 2, 2012. I could barely finish it.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 7:33 AM on October 5, 2012