Archive / Working Paper
The state and security in Guatemala
02/10/2009 By Ivan Briscoe
This document seeks to dissect the multiple manifestations of the security crisis in Guatemala, and the ways in which the financial, political and criminal aspects of state fragility combine and reinforce one another. Based on numerous interviews and field research, it argues that the withering of public authority can be understood as the effect of a proliferation and fragmentation of business transactions between non-state groups, factions within the state and political leaders.
With international interest and concern over the fate of Guatemala and Central America on the increase, it is clear that a new approach to dealing with elites and the country’s political economy is essential. Negotiation with non-state actors, and a reform process which combines enhanced public finance with public security targets, constitute the basis for a new period of international engagement.
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Keywords
Civil society Fragile state Guatemala Latin America & CaribbeanRelated publications
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- Guatemala: security, human rights and the state after the elections
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Bio author: Ivan Briscoe
Former senior researcher in Peace, Security and Human Rights at FRIDE.
