Transnational Organized Crime and Structural Violence in Brazil

Abstract

This paper is a research note that explores the links between transnational organized crime (TOC) – namely the groups linked to drugs and arms trafficking – and the structural violence in Brazil. Grounded on the discussion on violence explored by Johan Galtung and thereafter developed by other scholars of Peace Research, the paper specifically aims to answer the following question: How does TOC take advantage of societal configurations that perpetuate social injustice in contemporary Brazil? The exploratory research is grounded in the analysis of data provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) specialized in criminality and violence in South America, government communications and public security studies, as well as United Nations agencies reports (mainly United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)). The preliminary results show a correlation between transnational illicit networks and structural violence, with minor differences between rural and urban areas.