The Circulation of Policing in Latin America: Actors, Mechanisms and Templates

• In Event: Rethinking U.S.-Global South Crime and Criminal Justice Partnerships in an Era of Disengagement

Abstract

The ideas and practices of policing developed in the U.S. have influenced how other countries identify initiatives to address their crime and safety issues. Different policing strategies have been adopted across contexts, governments, and law enforcement agencies. In the Global South, actors with social, economic, and political capital facilitate the circulation of practices and power the flow of ideas, knowledge, and policing-related practices. This study explores the role of regional and domestic actors in the diffusion of two dominant policing strategies, community and hotspot policing, in Chile, Colombia, Honduras, and Uruguay. The research question guiding the study is: Who are the regional and domestic actors involved in the process? What are the differences between them when considering the strategies and countries analyzed? What mechanisms facilitate the circulation of ideas and practices regarding policing in the region? The study employs a multi-method qualitative research design, integrating archival data from policy briefs, reports, and laws (n=97) with semi-structured interviews (n=67) conducted with participants involved in the dissemination or implementation of policing strategies. Findings shed light on the circulation of policing, emphasizing the influence of actors with varying levels of authority who advocate specific viewpoints on policing strategies. This study also contributes to the debate on the circulation of policing practices across cross-national contexts, focusing on Latin America.

Author

• Felipe Salazar-Tobar, Kennesaw State University