Join us for Violence and Thriving Economies in Mexico, an all-day conference on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, in 457 Schermerhorn Extension.
This event inaugurates the new transatlantic collaborative project Thriving Economies Amidst Armed Violence and examines the interlinkages between licit and illicit sectors in Mexico. Moving beyond narrow views of criminal economies—such as poppy fields, fentanyl labs, or trafficking—the conference considers the essential role of criminal actors in structuring Mexican capitalism.
Bringing together leading scholars, the discussions will unfold on two levels. Empirically, participants will explore how armed groups operate across regional industries, from mining to oil transport to fisheries, and how their illicit activities sustain formal economies. Conceptually, the conference will examine how licit and illicit economic activities intertwine, offering new perspectives on how regional economies can flourish amid staggering levels of violence.
This event is organized by the Social Study of Disappearance Lab and sponsored by the Alliance Program, the Institute of Latin American Studies, the Lemann Center, CEMCA, and Incite at Columbia University.
Registration required: thrivingeconomies.eventbrite.com
