From narco-politics to mafia. Evolution of the relationship between organized crime and politics in Paraguay

Abstract

Introduction: In Paraguay, the relationship between drug trafficking and politics dates back to the last stage of the dictatorship (1954-1989), although it began an expansive process in the following years. Objective: Analyze how drug trafficking maintained and expanded its influence in the country thanks to the establishment of increasingly close relations between organized crime and the political class that emerged with democracy. Methodology: The production of information combines qualitative and ethnographic approaches, with observations, interviews and informal conversations with different key actors in different regions of the country over the last five years, in addition to an exhaustive documentary review. Conclusions: The findings suggest that for the Paraguayan context the concept of narco-politics may no longer be sufficient, being more appropriate the use of mafia, since there is an overcoming of the classic complicities of exchange of favors (impunity for financing) between politics and organized crime, installing an organic system of diffuse illegality, including: politicians, criminals, white-collar professionals, businessmen; which guarantees widespread profit and impunity. The level of interpenetration between criminality, society and institutions is reaching such deep levels that the very stability of democracy is being called into question.