Living and dying in the tamaulipas border: youth marginality in the context of border violence

Abstract

This paper approaches the experiences of young adults living in “La frontera chica” de Tamaulipas in a context of State violence. Taking this argument as reference, this article, from a critical point of view, has the purpose of examining the relationship between the violence generated along the Tamaulipas border as a consequence of the fight against organized crime, and the marginal position of border young adults and immigrants in that area. First, this essays presents and defines different theoretical models to approach the concept of violence; also, it provides a contextual-historic synopsis related to the specific case of border violence. Then, an analysis of multiple-response patterns adopted by the three levels of government to face organized and non-organized crime is offered. Finally, youth marginality and the forms in which the civil society has responded to the border violence are analyzed.