In the Vortex of Violence examines the uncharted history of lynching in post-revolutionary Mexico. Based on a collection of previously untapped sources, the book examines why lynching became a persistent practice during a period otherwise characterized by political stability and decreasing levels of violence. It explores how state formation processes, as well as religion, perceptions of crime, and mythical beliefs, contributed to shaping people's understanding of lynching as a legitimate form of justice. Extending the history of lynching beyond the United States, this book offers key insights into the cultural, historical, and political reasons behind the violent phenomenon and its continued practice in Latin America today.

About the Author
Gema Kloppe-Santamaria is Assistant Professor of Latin American History at The George Washington University. She is the lead editor of Violence and Crime in Latin America: Representations and Politics and Human Security and Chronic Violence in Mexico: New Perspectives and Proposals from Below.

Reviews
"Kloppe-Santamaria offers readers an eclectic, theoretically informed, and accessible account of a topic that remains urgent to Mexico's past and future." * New Mexico Historical Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9780520344037
Author Gema Kloppe-Santamaria
Format Paperback
Page Count 230
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 318g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 18mm