Negroponte compares violence in Mexico and Central America

The University of Texas at El Paso welcomed Diana Villiers Negroponte, J.D., Ph.D., a nonresident senior fellow of foreign policy at The Brookings Institution, to speak about violence and public insecurity in Central America on Oct. 27 as part of the ongoing Millennium Lecture Series.

Formerly a trade lawyer and history professor, Negroponte’s research focuses on Latin America, the New Left, populism and the relationship between criminal gangs and state institutions. She is the author of a number of reports on the Americas; her most recent written account is entitled, “The Mérida Initiative and Central America: The Challenges of Containing Public Insecurity and Criminal Violence.”

Negroponte was the first presenter of the 2009-10 academic year for the Millennium Lecture Series, which brings speakers to the UTEP campus to address topics that impact society and culture. The lectures are intended to provoke thinking and stimulate discussion. This year’s theme is “Contemporary Issues,” with a focus on Mexico and Latin America.

“Dr. Negroponte’s frank and considered views are relevant and extremely timely,” said UTEP President Diana Natalicio.

In her talk, Negroponte analyzed homicide rates in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, which are much higher than the homicide rates in the relatively peaceful neighboring countries of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

Her goal was to find similarities between the causes of violence in Central America and the escalating drug-related homicides in Mexico. She questioned whether strategies used to quell past drug and gang violence in Colombia could be adopted in Mexico.

What had worked in Colombia, she said, was a decade-long monetary commitment by the United States and Colombian governments. She suggested adopting a similar strategy in Mexico.

The U.S. government made an initial commitment of $400 million for Mexico and $65 million to for Central America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, when Congress passed the Mérida Initiative in 2008.

Negroponte suggested that the money should be used for three things: to train Mexican police and purchase police equipment; to train judges, attorneys and other legal system personnel; and to support social programs for gang prevention and intervention, as well as education and skills training.

“If I only have one choice—go hungry or join the gang—or even worse, my kids or my younger brothers go hungry, I join the gang,” Negroponte said. “Alternative livelihoods, microeconomics, microfinancing … are key components of any way forward. It’s going to take a decade at least, but all of us in this room have a stake in seeing its success.”