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Demosthenes's avatar

Why is Central/South America so violent? What is the solution to the violence there?

Asked by Demosthenes (15328points) July 5th, 2019

Most of the world’s most violent cities are located in Latin America. What makes this region of the world so especially violent? Obviously there are other impoverished regions across the globe, but consistently Latin America tops the list of violent nations and cities. It’s no surprise that so many are leaving Central America for the United States.

Here is a list of cities by murder rate:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate

Of the top 50, only three are not in the Americas!

What can be done to combat the violence there?

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14 Answers

Dutchess_III's avatar

I haven’t looked any further, but I heard much of it is due to policies the US has there. But I don’t know.

kritiper's avatar

Meager law enforcement. And too many gun-totin’ gangs.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Pretty sure most of the GDP is procured through illegal drug activity.

hmmmmmm's avatar

We could stop destroying the countries and propping up violent elements.

gorillapaws's avatar

US exploitation of their resources, subversion of democratically elected governments, and the huge influx of black market US dollars from the drug trade that leads to corruption are the primary culprits.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man was a pretty disturbing first-hand account of how the US has been exploiting undeveloped countries for decades.

stanleybmanly's avatar

The charitable answer is that the turmoil should be considered the long term consequence of the Monroe Doctrine. To a very large extent the people piling up at our borderline should be viewed as another illustration in the endless examples of “chickens coming home to roost” which defines the modern history of our truly hapless country.

kritiper's avatar

Events that might occur naturally by the current conditions might relieve the problem without outside human intervention. Like measles. And antibiotic resistant infections. And would be more cost effective.

YARNLADY's avatar

Not true, The Middle East is much more volatile and has been for hundreds of years.

The violence in the Americas is due to various dictators and government officials greed and mismanagement.

Zaku's avatar

Here is a tidy info-graphic showing 56 US military interventions in Latin America since 1890.

Dutchess_III's avatar

What is not true @YARNLADY?

LuckyGuy's avatar

Large income disparity
Illegal drug trade offering opportunities that make up for the lack of legal economic options.

stanleybmanly's avatar

But why the economic disparities to begin with? What’s the role of Uncle Sam or the Catholic Church? And YARNLADY the military interventions are almost afterthoughts compared to the machinations of United Fruit and such. if you want some eye popping revelations look into the history of “The school of the Americas” and its role in enforcing Central & South America as our corporate plantation.

YARNLADY's avatar

@stanleybmanly Zaku mentions military intervention, not me.

YARNLADY's avatar

@Dutchess_III I was disputing “Most of the world’s violent cities” but i retract that statement. It is, regrettably true.

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