Listen now (46 min) | Author and scholar Oswaldo Zavala challenges the cartel narrative anchored in a "national security storytelling machine," and opens up a whole new way to think about the drug war.
Eye opening talk. Ideas discussed can be a way to gain an understanding on the bigger forces that are shaping the border. I am thinking specifically on the discussion on official language (language that is used by the U. S. and the Mexican governments) and how it has the power to override the reality that us who live in the border experience.
I also wanted to mention to those readers that can read Spanish that the book discussed (Los Carteles no Existen - Narcotrafico y Cultura en Mexico) can be easily purchased as an e-book in the U. S.
Oct 21, 2021Liked by Melissa del Bosque, Todd Miller
This conversation is so interesting to me. The US can ignore a (local) GANG problem in MX and C - but the DRUG CARTELS (who facilitate drug traffic into the US) affect us in a more significant way and create a perfect excuse for the US to build border walls and increase national security. I am particularly interested in OZ's comments about using drug cartels as an excuse to allow police/governments to enter villages where there is indigenous unrest because of extractive industries - especially in Guatemala (I am less familiar with MX) Don't miss this University of Arizona charla about journalism in MX being in danger because, in part, of the drug cartels (I think they attribute 30% of the journalist deaths to drug cartels)
Thank you for your comment Alyson. I do believe that part of the gang imaginary that prevails in Central America derives from the "national security" discourse from the US. Even the notion of a "Northern Triangle" always brings to mind the way the US security talk labels conflict zones militarily (think of Iraq's "Sunni Triangle" of insurgency or Mexico's "Golden Triangle" of poppy and marijuana crops, for example), criminalizing poverty and justifying forced displacement. It is always extraordinary to read how repeated and redundant stories of victimized migrants by Central American gangs (and later by Mexican "cartels" as they journey to the north) automatically explain the violence in the region without any reference to extractive projects and the militarization of those affected areas. Thank you again for listening to the interview!
Thanks, Alyson, for your comment. I'll ask Oswaldo what he knows about that phenomena in Guatemala, who knows he might even be inclined to comment here too! And will definitely check out the charla you shared, Surviving Mexico is an accomplishment.
Thank you Alyson. We're looking forward to Oswaldo's book coming out in English soon. Surviving Mexico is also an excellent book. We definitely want to focus on this topic more in the future.
Eye opening talk. Ideas discussed can be a way to gain an understanding on the bigger forces that are shaping the border. I am thinking specifically on the discussion on official language (language that is used by the U. S. and the Mexican governments) and how it has the power to override the reality that us who live in the border experience.
I also wanted to mention to those readers that can read Spanish that the book discussed (Los Carteles no Existen - Narcotrafico y Cultura en Mexico) can be easily purchased as an e-book in the U. S.
This conversation is so interesting to me. The US can ignore a (local) GANG problem in MX and C - but the DRUG CARTELS (who facilitate drug traffic into the US) affect us in a more significant way and create a perfect excuse for the US to build border walls and increase national security. I am particularly interested in OZ's comments about using drug cartels as an excuse to allow police/governments to enter villages where there is indigenous unrest because of extractive industries - especially in Guatemala (I am less familiar with MX) Don't miss this University of Arizona charla about journalism in MX being in danger because, in part, of the drug cartels (I think they attribute 30% of the journalist deaths to drug cartels)
https://las.arizona.edu/events/charlas-con-caf%C3%A9-surviving-mexico-resistance-and-resilience-among-journalists-twenty-first
Please keep up the good work, Todd and Melissa
Thank you for your comment Alyson. I do believe that part of the gang imaginary that prevails in Central America derives from the "national security" discourse from the US. Even the notion of a "Northern Triangle" always brings to mind the way the US security talk labels conflict zones militarily (think of Iraq's "Sunni Triangle" of insurgency or Mexico's "Golden Triangle" of poppy and marijuana crops, for example), criminalizing poverty and justifying forced displacement. It is always extraordinary to read how repeated and redundant stories of victimized migrants by Central American gangs (and later by Mexican "cartels" as they journey to the north) automatically explain the violence in the region without any reference to extractive projects and the militarization of those affected areas. Thank you again for listening to the interview!
Thanks, Alyson, for your comment. I'll ask Oswaldo what he knows about that phenomena in Guatemala, who knows he might even be inclined to comment here too! And will definitely check out the charla you shared, Surviving Mexico is an accomplishment.
Thank you Alyson. We're looking forward to Oswaldo's book coming out in English soon. Surviving Mexico is also an excellent book. We definitely want to focus on this topic more in the future.