Collection asks why, despite the democratization of Latin American societies, multiple forms of violence have proliferated in recent years, exploring how various actors use violence to contest ideas of order, rights, citizenship, and justice.

Acknowledgments vii
Violent Pluralism: Understanding the New Democracies of Latin America / Enrique Desmond Arias and Daniel M. Goldstein 1
The Political and Economic Origins of Violence and Insecurity in Contemporary Latin America: Past Trajectories and Future Prospects / Diane E. Davis 35
End of Discussion: Violence, Participatory Democracy, and the Limits of Dissent in Colombia / Mary Roldán 63
Maintaining Democracy in Colombia through Political Exclusion, States of Exception, Counterinsurgency, and Dirty War / María Clemencia Ramírez 84
Clandestine Connections: The Political and Relational Makings of Collective Violence / Javier Auyero 108
"Living in a Jungle": State Violence and Perceptions of Democracy in Buenos Aires / Ruth Stanley 133
Organized Violence, Disorganized State / Lilian Bobea 161
Toward Uncivil Society: Causes and Consequences of Violence in Rio de Janeiro / Robert Gay 201
Violence, Democracy, and Human Rights in Latin America / Todd Landman 226
Conclusion: Understanding Violent Pluralism / Enrique Desmond Arias 242
References 265
Contributors 299
Index 301

Enrique Desmond Arias is Associate Professor of Political Science at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, and in the Doctoral Program in Criminal Justice at the Graduate Center, CUNY.

Daniel M. Goldstein is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.