Surveillance studies: An agenda for Latin America

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate - albeit in a modest way - the conditions that have hampered the development of surveillance studies in Latin America. To do this, first of all, the paper reflects from a theoretical perspective on the processes through which the traditions of social science research are produced, with the aim of understanding, secondly, how studies of public security in Latin America are produced. In the third part, the paper shows how these studies establish a logic of research that sidetracks the importance of surveillance as a specific field of research. Finally, the paper suggests a need to develop surveillance studies in the Latin American region, with the goal not only of helping to build a particular field of research, but also to initiate a strong critique of the contemporary problems and limits faced by the tradition of studies on public security. © The author(s), 2012.