{"id":1281,"date":"2017-02-10T08:35:59","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T14:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/?p=1281"},"modified":"2017-02-08T17:37:20","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T23:37:20","slug":"mexican-cartels-as-community-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/2017\/02\/10\/mexican-cartels-as-community-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexican Cartels as Community Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by Blok 70, Flickr CC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The <\/span>selling of Mexico\u2019s nationalized oil company<\/span><\/a>\u00a0has caused gas shortages and rising gas prices, sparking nationwide protest. In the midst of \u00a0\u201c<\/span>El Gasonlinazo<\/a>,<\/span>\u201d unlikely heroes have stepped forward to fight for affordable gasoline\u00a0— Mexican drug cartels. The cartels are threatening to burn gas stations, specifically those run by foreign companies, and they have started\u00a0stealing oil and selling it back to Mexican citizens for a lower cost. They claim that it is a disservice to the people of Mexico to make them pay such high prices for gas, especially when many do not even make a living wage.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is not unusual for individuals or groups with a negative image to present themselves in the best way possible through \u201cimpression management,” and drug cartels are no exception.\u00a0<\/span>Past research shows that developing an image of being helpful to the community helps cartels and gangs to garner legitimacy and respect. In Mexico, there is a long tradition of rebel groups acting in the name of the community, for example, the Zapatistas portrayed themselves as liberators, rather than criminals, in their fight against globalization.\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n