Introduction to the Discussion
Today, I had the privilege of engaging in a captivating conversation with colleagues and friends who have spent over thirty years reflecting on issues of security, crime, and violence. As we reviewed recent events, our goal was to address the question: “Security for whom and how?” We began by examining recent events, starting with a tragic incident on September 4 in Reynosa. A seven-year-old boy, Joshua, was killed by gunfire allegedly fired by Fiscal General del Estado agents during a confrontation with criminals. This incident is part of a disturbing trend, as 305 minors under the age of 18 were killed by firearms from January to June 2025, according to REDIM data.
Recent Events and Public Response
By September 7, an unprecedented march took place in Culiacán, Sinaloa, organized by citizens. Over 30,000 attendees gathered to denounce living amidst violence and death for more than a year, with over 1,000 fatalities impacting daily life. The protesters demanded an end to the violence and called for peace, a first in the locality.
Simultaneously, following a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Claudia Sheinbaum, the arrest of 14 members of a corruption ring involved in tax evasion (huachicol fiscal) was announced. The ring included businessmen and marines, with investigations ongoing for another 30 individuals.
Complex Realities and Critical Questions
These events highlighted a complex reality, prompting critical and reflective questions: How did we arrive here? Have legal and illegal activities merged to normalize illicit practices? What historical, political, economic, and social factors have shaped these intricate, unstable scenarios that undermine the rule of law and democracy?
Some possible scenarios include acknowledging the pain in our society and dignifying losses, disappearances, and frustrations experienced by thousands of people, often ignored, silenced, or marginalized. Social change occurs when we ethically position ourselves in relation to others’ pain and recognize it as our own.
Additionally, we face an epistemological crisis where academic theoretical proposals encourage new approaches to observe and analyze these phenomena. The interplay between political, economic, social, and security fields is transforming, creating new “social classes” operating in both legality and illegality, blurring the lines between what is legal and what is not.
Citizens play a crucial role in strengthening or weakening market logic and criminal proliferation by establishing clear boundaries within their communities regarding acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. A repoliticization, both discursively and structurally, is essential to foster more solidarity-based and just social perspectives.
Key Questions and Answers
- What are the recent events causing concern? Recent tragic incidents, such as the killing of a seven-year-old boy in Reynosa and an unprecedented march in Culiacán, highlight the complex realities of security, crime, and violence.
- How have legal and illegal activities merged? There is evidence of normalization of illicit practices, with new “social classes” operating in both legality and illegality, blurring the lines between what is legal and what is not.
- What role do citizens play in addressing these issues? Citizens can strengthen or weaken market logic and criminal proliferation by establishing clear boundaries within their communities. A repoliticization is essential to foster more solidarity-based and just social perspectives.
