Abstract

NATERAS-GONZALEZ, Martha Elisa. Armed Vigilant Groups in Michoacán, México: Rescue of the Citizen due to Violence?. Opin. jurid. [online]. 2018, vol.17, n.33, pp.149-171. ISSN 1692-2530.  https://doi.org/10.22395/ojum.v17n33a6.

At present, democratic systems are experiencing a crisis of representativeness and trust, causing social movements with a symbolic repertoire full of critical experience to penetrate with force, seeking to channel their social discontent in the face of a State that does not guarantee them security. Thus, the emergence of several vigilant groups in the state of Michoacán in early 2013 provoked di fferent reactions in some media, which divided their judgment on the legitimacy of these groups, the type of weapons they used and their mode of operation. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to analyze armed vigilant groups as an exercise of active citizenship and collective action, outside the conventional channels of participation. The main finding of this analytical-descriptive exercise is that society’s participation outside of state control has no place, even when Mexico is assumed to be a democratic state.

Keywords : Security; Armed Vigilant Groups; citizens; Government; collective actions.

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