Men Exercising Violence in Mexico

The purpose of this book is to introduce a practical conceptual tool for analyzing the dynamics of violence perpetrated by men. In doing so, it aims to address two methodological tools: the perspective of masculinities and the theory of countercoloniality. The work analyzes the temporal, spatial, and situational conditions that underlie the context of violence in Mexico. Examining the colonizing and decolonized impact in Mexico from both a Global North and Global South approach, it explores the effects of USA/Eurocentrism on violent activities. The work reflects on the construction of masculinity as a process deeply embedded in a patriarchal system, sustained by the coloniality of institutions, organizations, and state and private groups with high hierarchical power. The analytical framework identifies the need to question and unpack the decolonization of the patriarchal system, including our own colonizing actions, by proposing changes in men's lives towards more free and liberating, USA/Eurocentered masculinities. The paper concludes with an alternative vision for understanding and addressing crime and violence in Mexico, promoting Good Living (Buen Vivir) and a love for life.