Grillo’s book

In his book, Grillo investigates the dealers, brokers, gangsters, and assassins who are engaged in drug trafficking and murders that cause mayhem.

Grillo paints a vivid picture of gangster societies that persist throughout all of America, with cartel bosses and gang members like Montana living above the law. The top two countries are Mexico and the Caribbean. Grillo vividly depicts the pervasive patterns of the raging conflicts while documenting the grim truths that emerge throughout the book. In addition, Grillo offers a suggestion for how to approach the issue. Gangster Warlords is incredibly tense and succeeds spectacularly in showing how drug violence devastatingly leads to extreme brutalities that have a negative effect on the economy. According to Grillo, the problems of gangsters and drug trafficking have for a long time worked towards undermining the growth and security of many nations.

Arguments of the Book

Grillo argues that new kinds of criminal kingships such as terrorists and CEO unleash guerrilla attacks overpowering the national governments and thus taking power in world trade for guns, narcotics, and humans. He further contends that the actions of these people affect every person in varied spheres of life. Grillo arguments provide an account to the crime wars that wreck the South and Central America and the Caribbean along with the areas that were abandoned after the cold war. He gains access to every level of cartel chains terming the peril to be the novel battlefields to the US and indicates how the militia is out of control. Grillo argues that every enterprise has a culture that was shaped by the personalities of charismatic leaders. Typically, these groups mobilized assassination involving in massive killings. He argues that the leaders who run these gangs are “no longer just drug traffickers, but a weird hybrid of criminal CEO, gangster rock star, and paramilitary general” (Grillo 50). They fill the popular imagination as “demonic antiheroes” who ruthlessly cause violence in cities (Grillo 56). Gangsters have fueled holocausts and seen many detrimental wars in humanity history which have been extremely destructive.

Discussion of Sources

In his chronicles of drugs, Grillo uses the deaths registered in years 2000-2010 to indicate the severe depth of the problem. He says that more than one million people have died in the years as a result of gangsters and drug trafficking. He also references to the incident that happened in Jamaica may 2010 which culminated into the closure of businesses and schools because armed gangsters patrolled the streets preventing the arrest of Michael Christopher (Dudus). Christopher was a leader of the gangster and knows to America as the master of drug cartels. His detailed exploration into the drug trading activities done in South and Central America and the Caribbean offer strong sources of evidence into the threat of the problem. He further backs up his argument by using the El Narco information of 2011 that charts an increase in the drug barons in the region. From his source on Mexican cartels, he states that 90% of the US consumed cocaine comes from Mexico. He documents that the Mexico cartels are involved in the killing of police, women, reporters and even magistrates in attempts to see their business thrive. For instance, he notes that the death toll in Mexico in the year 2015 was 7,428 and thus portrayed how the country has lost its moral bearings. Grillo’s information on Brazil, El Salvador, and Caribbean cartels has also been strong sources that have grounded his argument.

Effectiveness of Grillo’s Argument

Grillo has effectively given a critical eye to the notorious criminal enterprises that have propelled the trading of drugs. He describes the war on cartels and successfully gives a thorough analysis into the problem that devastates the American society. Indeed, his argument draws a much perspective on the issues that concern crime wars which have broken many regions not only in the US but also throughout the world. His arguments have excellently broadened the nature of life in the western hemisphere. In reviewing this book, it is evident how Grillo delivers a vivid understanding into the armed gangsters and richly illustrates the manner in which these gangs terribly choke the life from nations resulting into destruction. He reinforces his stand by tabling the deaths registered from drug trafficking and gangster activities. The information he presents on militia along with the hybrid criminal organizations that emerged in Latin America and the Caribbean efficaciously mirrors his contention and paints the realities on the ground.

Truly, to the non-specialists, the comprehensive analysis of the case studies proved to be a great enlightenment into the atrocities committed.

He has effectively illustrated the history of the crimes organizations and their relationship with federal state and local communities. In-depth discussions into the cartels provide the broadened trends of crimes plaguing America. In his ultimate conclusion, he makes an observation that militia possesses shadow powers and seeks for impunity. He also suggests policy recommendations in relation to the problem of militia shadow power and postulates for reforms in the drug policy especially drawing his focus on marijuana. Grillo emphasizes that in efforts to eradicate the problem of cartels, the public has to know about the negative health risks associated with drugs. Besides, he informs that corruption has to be dealt with in order to realize the desired result.

Conclusion

To sum up, Grillo’s in his book Gangster Warlords provide in-depth analysis of drugs and crimes that gave insights into the issues surrounding drugs and the devastating impacts they bring to a nation. The book is not only relevant to the American society but also to the entire world particularly to the nations that suffered from the ailment of drugs, gangster, and cartels.

Work Cited

Grillo, I. Gangster Warlords. US. Bloomsbury, (1st ed.). 2016.