Narco- threats to democracies of the northern triangle

• In Event: Drug policies in Latin America: a survey of main approaches and obstacles to reduce drug production and drug trafficking

Abstract

Contrary to expectations, the Central American peace accord and the process of democratization that followed failed to generate peace and security to the citizens of the Northern Triangle countries. Instead, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador became involved in a new wave of violence. Most criminal activities, insecurity and violence are caused by Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO), which at the moment represent a greater threat to regional security than the wars led in the 1980s. DTOs are blatantly violating human rights. State institutions in charge of implementing the law are too weak to successfully confront DTOs. My paper analyzes the activity of the Mexican drug cartels, and that of the transporters of drugs, and the members of the mara sin the Northern Triangle countries. It emphasizes that high murder rates and insecurity have significant impact on the citizens’ attitudes towards democratic efficiency. Citizens are more prone to accepting repressive methods of fighting crime and insecurity, as well as undemocratic behavior. Likewise they tend to approve military comeback into the political arena. The paper concludes that after a prolonged period of citizen dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working, an erosion of legitimacy might occur, which would, in turn, broaden the space for DTOs and their criminal activities

Author

• Lidija Kos Stanisic, University of Zagreb