Narcocultura: A Threat to Mexican National Security?

Abstract

This project analyzes the collective identity and narratives surrounding the culture of the drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), or narcocultura, in Mexico. It questions whether the visible cultural artifacts of the DTOs reflect a cultural identity or if they create an identity that threatens Mexican national security. The analysis establishes that narcocultura is a relevant framework within which to study Mexican transnational organized crime (TOC). The study utilizes both cultural and security studies to illuminate the development of narcocultura in Mexico. It also assesses the transmission of narcocultura through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. In addition, the study looks at past and present methods that the Mexican government has used at the municipal, state, and federal levels to prevent the spread of narcocultura. When the aforesaid theories are applied to narcocultura, they reveal essential vulnerabilities that the Mexican government can exploit against DTOs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA574223

Entities

People

  • Ashleigh A. Fugate

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Freedom Of Speech
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Human Behavior
  • Information Operations
  • Law
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Psychological Operations
  • Psychological Phenomena And Processes
  • Social Media
  • Social Networking Services
  • Societies
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Agent-Based Social Robotics and Mobile-Assisted Learning in Virtual Environments.
  • European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.