Pax Mafiosa
ThePax Mafiosa(Latinfor “MafiosoPeace” ) is a term describing a state of relative non-violence in the territories of organized crime groups caused by agreements not to interfere in criminal activities.[1][2][3]
Description
[edit]The "peace" has been described as a state of relative non-violence.[1]This is generated from an agreement between different competingorganized crimegroups to not compete in criminal activity and territory, leading to a stable peace.[4]Governmental authorities may also agree to this peace for their citizens, by non-interference in drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Conversely, organized crime groups benefit from reduced competition and risk, and non-harassment of their members and families.[2]There are allegations that notional capture and escapes of organized crime bosses might be ploys to maintain the peace.[5]
It has been felt that an increase in violence after a period of peace is due to a change in thestatus quo,for example, an increase in competition between groups or political interference.[4]
Etymology
[edit]The name is usually used in reference to theSicilian Mafiaand otherItalian organized crime groups.The name is modeled on theLatinPax Romana(English: "Roman Peace" ), which was a long period of relative peace in theRoman Empiredue to its power and influence. Just asthis term led to derivative terms,such asPax BritannicaandPax Americana,the termPax Mafiosahas also led to derivative usage.[4]The phrase is sometimes written asPax Mafioso,howeverMafiosais the grammatically correct and more common variant.[4]
As applied to Mexico
[edit]The termPax Sinaloa(Latin for “Sinaloa Peace” ) is used to describe the peace that occurred due to the power of theSinaloa Cartelduring theMexican Drug War.[5][6]This has also been referred to as thePax Narcotica( “Narcotic Peace” ).[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^abStewart, Phil (20 June 2007)."Pax Mafiosa leads to fall in Italian mob killings".Reuters.Reuters UK.Retrieved17 August2016.
- ^abStrong, Gavin (15 October 2013)."Mexico City's Fraying 'Pax Mafiosa'".Forbes.Control Risks.Retrieved17 August2016.
- ^Vulliamy, Ed (22 February 2014)."Joaquín 'Chapo' Guzmán: the Mexican drug lord adept at playing the system".The Guardian.London.Retrieved17 August2016.
- ^abcdSample, Kirsten (15 April 2014)."Beware of the Pax Mafioso".Foreign Policy.Retrieved17 August2016.
- ^abWinslow, Don (9 August 2016)."El Chapo and the Secret History of the Heroin Crisis".Esquire.Retrieved17 August2016.
- ^Vulliamy, Ed (19 July 2015)."Has 'El Chapo' turned the world's former most dangerous place into a calm city?".The Guardian.Retrieved17 August2016.
- ^W., T. (2011-01-07)."A pax narcotica?".Economist.Retrieved3 September2016.
- ^Norton, Adam David (October 12, 2012). "The War on Drugs in Mexico: a failed state?".Third World Quarterly.33(9): 1631–1645.doi:10.1080/01436597.2012.720837.S2CID55998162.