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How could the autodefensas have stopped from being corrupted?

posted 8 years ago by chazmonet2015
7 replies | jump to latest

In the beginning of the documentary it appeared the autodefensas were a group of working, family men who banded together and took up arms to rid their village of the terrifying cartels. But it wasn't long before the movement became large, uncontrolled and ultimately corrupted and co-opted by their political and criminal enemies.

What could the autodefensas have done to keep their movement true to its goal of ridding the local villages of the drug cartels? Is there a set of rules they could have instituted?

If you had been "El Doctor" at the beginning, what would you have done to prevent the corrupting of the movement?

[–] Teriek-Williams 8 years ago

You'd have to find a sociopolitical movement that remained pure, and attempt to replicate it. Unfortunately, I can't think of any movements that weren't perverted. It's even harder in the situation Cartel Land presents considering the entrenched history of government corruption, societal poverty, and the lucrative yet highly treacherous nature of the drug business.

Furthermore, the autodefensas are by definition vigilantes. It's difficult to sake out a position of vigilantism and thwart corruption mainly because vigilantism lends itself to a lack of oversight and accountability. So, maybe I'm too cynical, but if I were "El Doctor," I would have considered the ultimate goal impossible without powers I wouldn't have. He struck me as a "true believer." They always lose.

[–] chazmonet2015 8 years ago

You may be right, however, the alternative for these villagers was to continue being terrorized by the cartels... They were in between a rock and a hard place.

Could El Doctor have succeeded in a more limited goal of protecting say 10 of these neighbouring villages? If so, how could he have done it?

I'll take a stab at some policies that might have helped:

1. Vetting Members
- The autodefensas grew so quickly they were throwing out t-shirts to people they didn't really know were on their side. Perhaps they should have moved slower, and vetted each member as best as possible.

2. Identification
- The autodefensas needed uniforms that could identify them to the public. But they needed uniforms that couldn't be easily copied. Perhaps their shirts should have a special crest or something sown on that would be difficult to replicate.

3.Accountability
- The autodefensas needed to be accountable to the public. Their uniforms could have their names largely emblazoned on them, so villagers could identify them when making complaints.

4. Townhall control
- Regular townhall meetings to address the citizens and hear complaints. If the citizens attending the townhall told the autodefensas they were no longer welcome. Then the autodefensas would leave that village.

5. No Money
- The Autodefensas are volunteers who could accept guns, food, clothes from villages they protect, but never money. Money is too easy to transfer to other illegitimate purposes. Members would have to keep their regular jobs, and volunteer as Autodefensas on the side.

6. Media
- Encourage local, national and international media to cover and document their movement. This would (hopefully) prevent the government from sending the army in to slaughter them.

[–] Teriek-Williams 8 years ago

Government & police already utilize the first 4 options. This has not made them any less susceptible to corruption. Option 6 wouldn't work as the media is the easiest thing to buy. Option 5 fails to take into account that there is always a system of a value, and that in an poverty-stricken society, easy money is often more appealing than doing the right thing, particularly in a society where "right" rarely enters the equation.

The only possibility for the doctor's main goal is the end of the drug trade by legalization/regulation of drugs.

[–] RobbieCalifornia 8 years ago

In my opinion it was absolutely inevitable that things would end up the way they did. Money will win out in Mexico every time..

[–] clytamnestra 8 years ago

I would have joined the army in order to help the villagers.

A kinda-corrupt government wins out from runaway vigilantism any day of the week. The IRA, the ETA, the maffia, the resistance in nazi-occupied europe: name me one vigilantism-group that didn't end up attracting 'the wrong kind of people' and terrorizing innocents. Long-term vigilantism only works in Hollywood-movies.

But it seems i took something different from this movie than everyone else: to me Doc is not a tragic hero betrayed by his own idealism, he is a jerk stroking his ego by playing Rambo while real people are suffering.

[–] batigoal9-1 8 years ago

name me one vigilantism-group that didn't end up attracting 'the wrong kind of people' and terrorizing innocents.

Why not do the opposite:

Name me one NON vigilantism-group that didn't end up attracting 'the wrong kind of people' and terrorizing innocents.

As Nietzsche said, in individuals insanity is rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.

[–] kishan_99 8 years ago

I think the doctor was foolish thinking that he could control the group by having a 'common goal'.

1. Most of the people that got together to form the group were not high quality people. Not strong ethical and moral compasses.I'm saying that when you're heading your force, you should right away get a clear command and control structure enforced. And have people with some experience in law enforcement or the military or even in civilian administration part of the higher echelon to put processes and systems in place. The fact he didn't was just stupid. Otherwise if you havr just bunch of young guys roaming around with guns, they are gonna run around and abuse their power.

2. The doctor have had to know he would've had to negotiate with the government. He should've negotiated a good deal for himself where he could continue his work with the government's sanction and reached a high government post.

3. The fact that anyone could become a vigilante was messed up. I understand the need to get men, who can guard, patrol and fight. But without a screening process or even you wanted to induct former cartel guys, they should've been to apologize. And strict discipline in terms of a regular police or military should've been enforced.

4. The fact is that in a situation, like he was, ppl usually have two options, to have a 'purge' or go after key members and eliminate them through judicial or extra-judicial means- I know this sounds like horror to most ears but when your society is going through such turbulence, you need to adopt drastic measures such as curfew at night to targeted killing of cartel guys. You need to show who the boss is. And drug or gang activity won't be tolerated. Also not misuse or corruption internally.

5. He also should've delivered a higher message to his populace. To build a better future and stuff. He didn't come across as very smart leaving his org under questionable hands.