Criminals in Uniform. Examining the Role of State Agents in Criminal Violence Examining the Role of State Agents in Criminal Violence

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2019-10-18
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en
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Present thesis investigates the role of Mexican state agents in criminal violence against undocumented migrants and asks how this might be explained. Starting point of this research interest was the apparent paradox between the theoretical and actual situation of undocumented migrants in Mexico. While Mexican migration policies appear to be improving on paper in terms of provision of security as well as justice, in practice, the harm migrants experience in Mexico is not diminishing nor is the prosecution of these criminal cases rising. Empirical evidence indicates that the nature of criminal violence in which Mexican state representatives are engaging can be categorized in two groups: crimes that result from an extension of legal state policy, and crimes explicitly intended to benefit the perpetrators. By further investigating how denounced cases of criminal violence against undocumented migrants are dealt with, this thesis concludes that crimes are covered up by state agents to restore their legitimacy. The restoration of state legitimacy results in locals having more negative perceptions of migrants, which again leads to more harm against migrants. Based on these findings, this thesis emphasizes the need to (re)consider state agents as active operators of and contributors to the perpetuation of criminal violence.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen