Intersections of Social Policy and Citizen Security in Mexico City

• In Event: National and Sub-National Innovations in Social Policy in Mexico: Evaluation and Analysis

Abstract

Globally, urban social policies are increasingly becoming intertwined with crime prevention strategies. The concept of Safer Cities has become a significant priority for municipal governments throughout the Americas, based on the idea of reducing violence through increased social trust, social capital and innovative approaches to policing. Since the first democratic elections in 1997, Mexico City has established an impressive range of social policies based on principles of universalism and democratic citizenship. At the same time, PRD-led Distrito Federal governments have adopted innovative practices in citizen security, moving from broken windows and zero tolerance to community policing and community mobilization. Based on interviews in Mexico City between 2012 and 2014, we examine in this paper the changing practices of citizen security at the municipal scale and how they intersect with approaches to social policy and poverty reduction. We argue that while other important factors are involved, the city’s innovative mix of social programs and citizen security programs has contributed to the maintenance of relatively low and stable levels of violence in Mexico City compared to the rest of the country.

Authors

• Laura C Macdonald, Carleton University

• Lucy Luccisano, Wilfrid Laurier University