La Violencia en America Latina. Retos y perspectivas para el futuro

 Although defined as an area of peace due to the low likelihood of inter-state conflict, Latin America is the most dangerous region in the world. Such statement is supported by figures published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicating the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants. Data for 2017 show that the homicide rate in South America (24.2) was higher than in Africa (13.0), Europe (3.0), and Asia (2.3). Although ensuring personal safety is one of the fundamental obligations of the state, this standard is not translated into practice. The reality of Latin America, where violence takes very diverse forms, is very complex. This reality is the subject of this book.

The authors of the chapters in this volume investigate the notion of violence and safety with the aim of bringing the reader closer to the sources of violence, its – at times imperceptible – types and consequences. By looking at the analyzed phenomena through the prism of anthropological, cultural, political and literary studies, experts take into account the particularities of various countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru and El Salvador. Representing diverse research areas and academic centers in Europe, the United States and Latin American countries, the authors resisted the temptation of seeking universal and simplified solutions. Instead, they provided an insightful and thought-provoking overview of a phenomenon affecting millions of citizens in the region. The publication is therefore a voice in the discussion on possibly the most serious challenge facing Latin America in the 21st century.