Violence threatens to irreparably erode Mexican democracy

Mexico’s fight against violence, especially drug-induced killings of officials, signals that the country’s democracy is nearing a breaking point. As violence escalates, the democratic ideals cherished by many risk becoming an illusion.

The murder of a mayor is a new normal in Mexico

The brutal murder of Alejandro Arcos, the newly elected mayor of Chilpancingo, Guerrero, is more than just a tragic headline. It’s a stark reminder of the reality that many Mexican politicians, especially at the local level, face every day. Within a week of taking office, Arcos was found dead, his body discarded as a symbol of the contempt drug cartels have for those who stand in their way. Just days earlier, his secretary, Francisco Tapia, was shot in yet another act of violence against officials.

The governor of the state, Evelyn Salgado, expressed the collective grief of the citizens of Chilpancingo, but her words do little to change the fact that this incident is just one of many. Guerrero has long been one of the most violence-ridden states in Mexico, caught in the crosshairs of cartel wars. The toll this violence takes on governance is staggering; When politicians can be assassinated so soon after taking office, it sends a clear message that public service in parts of Mexico is a dangerous, even fatal endeavor.

But the problem goes deeper. Guerrero’s systemic violence underlines the fragility of Mexican democratic institutions. When elected officials are murdered with impunity, the idea of ​​democracy—that citizens can choose their leaders and those leaders can act in their best interests—begins to unravel. How can government officials serve their communities if they first have to fear for their lives?

Political violence and the drug trade: a deadly mix

The death of Alejandro Arcos is not an isolated incident. Guerrero, located along major trafficking routes along the Pacific coast, has long been a battleground for control between rival drug gangs. The Ardillos and the Tlacos, the two main groups in the area, are engaged in turf wars that spill over into the political arena, killing officials who refuse to bow to their influence or stand in the way of their operations.

This deadly mix of politics and drug trafficking has made local elections in states like Guerrero a dangerous gamble. In the run-up to the June 2 Mexican elections, six candidates for public office were assassinated in the state alone. Nationwide, cartels are responsible for the deaths of dozens of politicians every year. For every official who is murdered, countless others face daily threats, making it difficult for them to govern effectively or even implement essential public services.

The roots of this violence can be traced back to 2006, when the Mexican government deployed the military to combat the country’s drug cartels. Instead of quelling violence, the war on drugs escalated violence, forcing cartels to adopt more aggressive and ruthless tactics. Since then, more than 450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have disappeared. This militarized response has not only failed to contain the violence, but has also allowed it to permeate every level of government, eroding trust between citizens and the state.

Democratic ideals under attack

As the death toll rises, so does the threat to democracy. Mexico’s democratic institutions, theoretically designed to empower the people, are being paralyzed by the pervasive influence of the cartels. When public officials can be murdered for trying to do their jobs, democracy itself is in danger. Elected leaders, fearful of retaliation, may begin to bow to the demands of criminal organizations, jeopardizing their ability to govern in the public interest.

The case of Guerrero is particularly illustrative of how entrenched this violence has become. Local officials have called on the federal government to intervene, arguing that the state’s level of ungovernability requires a national response. Yet even at the federal level, there is limited capacity to rein in the cartels’ power. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s strategy of “hugs, not bullets,” aimed at reducing violence through social programs and a non-confrontational approach, has done little to curb the bloodshed. Violence continues unabated, with cartels maintaining control of large swathes of territory and often outpacing local law enforcement.

This is where the fragility of Mexican democracy becomes most apparent. In regions like Guerrero, democracy exists only in name and little remains in practice. Citizens vote, but their elected leaders are unable to make meaningful changes. Corruption, fear and violence undermine the foundation of democratic governance, creating a system in which power is in the hands of those who control the streets, not those who hold office.

If democracy is meant to represent the will of the people, what happens when bullets silence the people’s representatives? The answer is that democracy, in its ideal form, is becoming a distant memory, overshadowed by the grim reality of surviving in a cartel-dominated state.

Can Mexico recover from this crisis?

The murder of Alejandro Arcos raises a question that many in Mexico have been asking for years: Can democracy survive in a country where violence is so pervasive? The answer is not clear. What is clear, however, is that the current trajectory is unsustainable. If government officials continue to be murdered with impunity, Mexico’s democratic system risks collapsing under the weight of violence and corruption.

To restore confidence in democracy, Mexico must confront its systemic problems head-on. First, concerted efforts must be made to combat the corruption that allows cartels to operate with relative impunity. This not only means cracking down on drug trafficking, but also tackling the political and economic structures that allow cartels to flourish. Without fundamental reforms, any efforts to curb violence will be superficial.

Second, Mexico must protect its officials. The murder of politicians cannot become the norm. If local officials continue to be assassinated, there will be fewer and fewer candidates willing to risk their lives to serve their communities. The federal government must protect vulnerable officials, especially in high-risk areas like Guerrero. More resources should be allocated to law enforcement, not only to combat cartels, but also to ensure that government officials can carry out their duties without fear of assassination.

Finally, Mexico must restore trust between its citizens and its government. This won’t be easy. Decades of violence, corruption and impunity have created a deep sense of mistrust. Citizens need to see that their government can protect them and their elected leaders. Without this trust, democracy cannot function.

The road to recovery will be long and difficult. However, the alternative is much worse. If violence continues unchecked, Mexico risks becoming a failed state where democracy is reduced to an ideal rather than a practice. The murder of Alejandro Arcos is a tragic reminder of what is at stake. The time for action is now, before Mexican democracy reaches the point of no return.

Also read: The hidden impact of violence on business growth in Mexico

The murder of Alejandro Arcos underlines the serious challenges facing Mexican democracy. As violence and corruption undermine the political system, the risk of democratic ideals becoming mere illusions is ever-present. The only way forward is through bold action, reforms, and a commitment to protect both government officials and the democratic process itself.