Public Security In The Negotiated State

This book seeks to overcome the lack of theoretically informed empirical studies on policing and state-society relations in areas of limited statehood. By drawing on in-depth field research in Mexico City, Markus-Michael Muller offers an insightful analysis of the negotiated character of the Mexican state and its impact on policing.

Despite the resulting un-public nature of Mexican policing, he demonstrates that Mexico City residents do not abandon the state as a security provider but continue to turn to the state, in a variety of formal and informal ways and even have normative expectations regarding state-centred security provision.

By putting these findings in perspective with other related cases in Latin America, Africa and Asia, the author provides a new cutting-edge perspective on the material and symbolic relevance of the state in areas of limited statehood. Review: This is a brilliant study on the complex articulation between the metropolitan police forces and the general public in Mexico City.

It is rich in conceptualization, provides overwhelming empirical support and is eloquently written. I have no doubt about the character of this fine publication: It will be a modern classic in the field of public security and urban violence in Latin America. Highly recommended. Dirk Kruijt, Emeritus Professor of Development Studies, Utrecht University