Clientelism and organized crime in the context of COVID-19: the interference of criminal groups in the local elections in Mexico (2020-2021)

Abstract

The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic showed institutional fragility worldwide, even more so in Latin American countries. In this sense, the temporary closures and containment measures to lessen the pandemic will mainly affect low-income and informal workers. Given this context, the objective of this article is to analyze the particularities of the patronage exchange carried out by organized crime groups in the context of the 2020-2021 Electoral Process in Mexico. The evidence shows that some organized crime organizations distributed different economic or in-kind support, a phenomenon that took place mainly at the local level.