Murder City: Ciudad Juarez and the Global Economy's New Killing Fields

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Bowden is not a social scientist but a journalist who takes his calling very seriously. Based on direct observation, the cultivatition of sources, press reports, hard work, reflection, and much courage he enters a world that few understand and fewer still care to think about--in spite of the climbing death toll. Mexico has a new export: silence, and it is quite intoxicating and apparently contagious. Across the river, in El Paso, there is a univeristy. No one there (or in any other college on the border) dares confront Mexican reality, however. It is as if "higher" education really isn't, but just a cosmetic marketing game played to strictly vocational music, lest uncomfortable truths surface to challenge conventional wisdom: lest professors actually "dirty" themselves by actual social interaction in the world that surrounds them. Mexican social scientists have been mute on this issue for decades, of course, but there, I suppose, this is understandable as one is not free to critically study the state. Bowden is as blunt as he is precise: (page 202): "The war in Mexico is for drugs and the enormous money to be made by supplying American habits, a torrent of cash that the army, the police, and the cartels all lust for...The Mexican army is a government-financed criminal organization, a fact most Mexicans learn as children." What this actually means on the streets of Juarez is carefully documented. Many years ago I did fieldwork in another border city where, interested in the nightlife and the demimonde, I encountered a number of colorful characters similar to those described by Bowden, but there was little violence. A positive economic wave had engulfed the region (1969-72), the plazas were charming, commerce was vital and thriving, the bullring was packed on the weekends, tourists were everywhere, and most Mexicans I met were unbelievably friendly and hardworking. By the summer of 1974 the economy imploded on both sides of the river, there was a great deal of violence, and the Mexican army was in the streets. It was the precursor of things to come. Those who knew me were worried about my safety. Many others were afraid of talking to strangers. Tourism virtually died. Businesses shut down. I had known a number of less colorful characters as well, but heartbreak, struggle, broken dreams, crime, poverty, early death and the drug scene can be found in most cities. It is a matter of degree, visibility, and intensity. That Bowden's writing style is sometimes hallucinogenic can be initially confusing--until the full weight of what he is describing sets in. It is a kind of cumulative nausea which, under any circumstances, is unplesant. That it is quite real (and escalating) is very troubling. That his subject matter is largely ignored, dismissed, distorted, and misunderstood by Americans is catastrophic. American criminology is largely product of American society whcih, over time, is basically upbeat: we re-invent ourselves with each genertion and most don't have to worry about what it means to have no future at all:for fatlaism to become normal. Our wars eventually end, and our Hollywood criminals are rather likeable, in part, because they are fictional. Our children can play video games where violence is simply an abstract ingredient to break the boredom and routine of conventional life. Jaurez, however, is a strange game that is a real city, with no "off" button, and the casualties are everywhere--and mounting. Read this book and you will discover why. All those in social science should do so, and all those interested in the future of Mexico (and our misguided policies) should take careful notes. Sometinmes it takes a journalistic eye to see what most academics don't, can't, are afraid to, won't be funded for, or would rather not pursue because it takes a long time, is risky, and the smooth logic of simple explanation oftentimes fails, and it can habve some very rough (and sharp) edges in the world that people actually life in.

this is the kind of book that once you pick it up, you can't resist the temptation to finish it in one reading. it is just so interesting and captivating. i love all the factual stories and the way the author told it in first person conversational mode. as if you are having a beer with a seasoned journalist who has been around for a long time, who has seen it all.many reviewers on this board expressed a valid critique that despite all the factual data points, the author failed to articulate a conclusion or some kind of "policy" statement, the so called "to do list" to help US and Mexico to make life better for the mexican people. while i understand and respect this critique, i also believe Bowden is a journalist in the mode of "we report, you decide". the last thing i want is my reporter doing his/her "spin" that becomes common in the liberal media.as to the content of the book. i do have a few questions for myself to ponder...1. is there anything "genetically corrupt" (to quote a mexican journalist in this book) about the mexican culture?2. why after 60+ years, mexico is still trailing. while all the asian tigers have ascended to first world status in much shorter time. even China, which is as corrupt as mexico but at least 1/3 or China's econ. is not pushing narcos and another 1/3 for pushing illegals into United States.3. the author pointed out NAFTA has actually made life difficult for mexico as they lost jobs to China. Chinese workers earn even less than mexicans. then, why the latest stats reveals that China is moving toward a consumer based econ and currently being the #1 lender to feed US borrowings. if low wage and failure to compete to lower wages is the reason, why mexico failed and china succeeded?4. the author pointed to the devastation of the "war on drugs" on Mexico. the implicit argument is, legalization may bring relief to this. however, why Colombia, just as narco many years ago, has reduced the drug econ. from 30% of GDP to barely 10%. why Colombia can but mexico cannot?5. the implication to United States. over 60% of all hispanics immigrants are mexicans in US. why after 60 yrs, hispanics are still the underclass, earns less than other race groups, has less education, more imprisoned per capita....this is despite the "affirmation action" programs in governments and many public US corporations to actively help and recruit hispanics. whereas other immigrant groups are striving ahead on their own without government race based quota....these are the questions one begins to ponder. i am not saying mexico does not want to improve. i saw a documentary on Brazil's national TV that mexico is the #1 Latin country sending the most students to China to learn the chinese model. this shows mexico wants to learn. this is a plus. may be mexico should copy the Confucius model which has made S.Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan such a success?this is a fantastic book to help us start this thinking process. definitely a must read if you are one of the "spring breakers" whose view of mexico is from your last resort experiences.

I made the foolish error of thinking the author was Mark Bowden-whose books such as Black Hawk Down and Killing Pablo are meticulous pieces of journalistic writing that retain the excitement of novels. I couldn't wait to read his account of the brutal cartel wars of Juarez and their devastating effect on the city-at one point it achieved the grim accolade of murder capital of the world.I was stunned to begin reading and find pretentious, poetic musings with haphazard structure. No timeline or details on the groups at play in the Cartel war. Simply meandering gibberish...like a stoned 18 year student thinking he's a 60's Beat Poet writing deep and meaningful prose. What the hell happened to the author??I then realised what a fool I was..the author was Charles, not Mark Bowden.I am actually angered at the arrogance of the author. He was one of the few American writers to spend large periods of time in Juarez in the period where it became a tragedy of near biblical proportions. He must've accrued the knowledge and information to write an epic account. Instead his arrogance overrides all thatHe ignores structured narrative as he feels his aspirations for poetic symbolism are far more important than the events themselves.I did raise a laugh when he states in this book on drug wars and chaos that he himself has never taken a single drug in his life. Ironic then that his writing resembles a pretentious 4th rate dope infused counterculture advocate from 50 years ago.

A humble and committed talent giving voice to the voiceless. An essential work about a part of the world that is in terrible darkness.

I will look for a more objective book on the subject; the author chose to write this story in a fashion more akin to...I'm not sure what, prose, grim musings....some sort of spirit walker ghosting his way thru the despair. I wanted to read a more factual, gritty, bare bones breakdown of the state of affairs. Some may like his writing style; I didn't. But it is a story which needs to be told.

jedoch schwer zu lesen für den ein oder anderen, wenn das Englisch nicht fortgeschritten ist. Ansonsten sehr spannend beschrieben, wie es in Juarez zu geht und das System in Mexico funktioniert...

This book was excellent reading.I would recommend it to people who go to border towns to shop for their supper bargains.A few deals can,t be worth the potential problems that you might have . Tom