The Rise of the Narcostate

This book is our sixth Small Wars Journal-El Centro anthology covering writings published between 2016 and 2017. The theme of this anthology pertains to the rise of the narcostate (mafia states) as a result of the collusion between criminal organizations and political elites-essentially authoritarian regime members corrupted plutocrats and other powerful societal elements. The cover image of the mass demonstration concerning the disappearance of the forty-three Ayotzinapa Teachers' College students held at Mexico City's Zócalo Plaza in November 2014 provides an archetype of this anthology's theme. This anthology includes the following special essays-Preface: New Wars and State Transformation by Robert Muggah Igarapé Institute; Foreword: Crime and State-Making by Vanda Felbab-Brown The Brookings Institution; Postscript: Crime Drugs Terror and Money: Time for Hybrids by Alain Bauer CNAM Paris; and Afterword: The Rise of the Oligarchs by Col. Robert Killebrew US Army (Ret.). Dave Dilegge (SWJ Editor-in-Chief)