Mexico's Cartel Crisis: Unpacking the Structural Drivers of a Persistent Problem
Original framing: “El Mencho’s killing won’t solve Mexico’s cartel problem – or anything else” — Al Jazeera
The original framing omits the historical context of US-Mexico relations, including the 1914 US invasion of Mexico and the subsequent imposition of a US-dominated economic and political order. It also neglects the perspectives of indigenous communities, who have long been affected by the cartel violence and the US-Mexico border policies. Furthermore, the narrative fails to consider the role of global economic forces, such as neoliberalism and free trade agreements, in perpetuating the cartel crisis.
Medium structural omission detected in mainstream coverage.
This narrative was produced by Al Jazeera, a Qatari-based media outlet, for a global audience, serving to highlight the complexities of Mexico's cartel crisis and the limitations of a 'kingpin' approach. By framing the issue in this way, the narrative obscures the role of US demand and the broader structural factors driving the crisis, while also reinforcing the notion that Mexico's problems are inherently 'foreign'.
The US-Mexico border has been a site of conflict and violence for over a century, dating back to the 1914 US invasion of Mexico. The current cartel crisis is a legacy of this history, as well as the subsequent imposition of US-dominated economic and political order on Mexico.
The cartel crisis in Mexico is a complex issue that requires a nuanced understanding of its root causes, including social and economic inequalities, corruption, and a flawed US-Mexico drug policy.