Alejandro Hope
Friday, January 22, 2016 - 07:15
A common argument used in defense of the Mando Único policing model is that it is easier to build 32 good state police forces than to reform the more than 1800 municipal police departments that exist across Mexico. That plausibly-sounding argument would be way stronger if state police forces were shining examples of reform and modernization.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 - 05:42
Last Thursday, three men were gunned down in Culiacan, the capital of the northwestern state of Sinaloa. Hardly a notable occurrence in that traditionally violent region of Mexico, except for one thing: one of the victims happened to be José Vicente Zambada, a nephew of Ismael El MayoZambada.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 - 07:09
Several people who were wrongly detained and allegedly tortured by Mexican police have been released after spending years in custody, human rights groups said Thursday.
Friday, July 24, 2015 - 06:17
Nothing would make the Mexican government happier than reapprehending El Chapo Guzmán. But, barring a really lucky break, the fugitive kingpin will remain a free man for months, if not years.
Monday, July 13, 2015 - 07:34
The Peña Nieto administration takes a considerable hit as it had claimed a reputation for efficacy based upon its success against some top-level drug cartels, specifically the 2014 capture of “El Chapo.” Time will tell how much damage the escape did to the U.S.-Mexico security relationship.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - 00:00
Como ve, es posible tenerlo todo: prohibicion y aplausos, statu quo e imagen de reformismo. Todo es cuestion de no cuidar los detalles, privilegiar los simbolos sobre los resultados, legislar para los reflectores, utilizar la mariguana para ganar puntos e
Monday, February 24, 2014 - 00:00
Now comes something potentially more toxic, but certainly quite different than the old-style cartels: a complex ecosystem of smaller, more violent, more extractive gangs.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - 00:00
The illegal marijuana trade provides Mexican organized crime with about $1.5 billion to $2 billion a year. That’s not chump change, but according to a number of estimates, it represents no more than a third of gross drug export revenue
Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 00:00
Mexico's national government claims homicides have dropped significantly during President Enrique Pena Nieto's first year. However, security analyst Alejandro Hope's closer examination of the 2013 numbers and their relationship to 2012 show this is not th
Monday, December 2, 2013 - 00:00
To put coordination on a pedestal, turn it into a public policy objective, is a monumental mistake. It is a clear demonstration of a lack of clarity about what one wants.