In the Vortex of Violence

Download or read book In the Vortex of Violence written by Gema Kloppe-Santamaría and published by University of California Press. This book was released on 2020-08-18 with total page 229 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the Vortex of Violence examines the uncharted history of lynching in post-revolutionary Mexico. Based on a collection of previously untapped sources, the book examines why lynching became a persistent practice during a period otherwise characterized by political stability and decreasing levels of violence. It explores how state formation processes, as well as religion, perceptions of crime, and mythical beliefs, contributed to shaping people’s understanding of lynching as a legitimate form of justice. Extending the history of lynching beyond the United States, this book offers key insights into the cultural, historical, and political reasons behind the violent phenomenon and its continued practice in Latin America today.