UNDERSTANDING VIOLENCE IN MEXICO: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIVIL SOCIETY AND GOVERNMENT

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Carnegie) is one of the world's most highly regarded international affairs think tanks and the oldest in the United States. Carnegie's mission is to advance the cause of peace through analysis and development of fresh policy ideas and direct engagement and collaboration with decision-makers in government, business, and civil society. Carnegie enlisted a Capstone team to conduct extensive research on compounded violence and political reform in Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico. The team traveled to both cities and interviewed over 30 stakeholders, including representatives from government, civil society, academia, media, and employees in the private sector. The team sought to understand the relationship between civil society and government and the impact of this relationship on violence and the political reform process. The team's research culminated in a report that outlined the relationship structure between key stakeholders and provided recommendations for how to leverage existing mechanisms and partnerships to address the issue of violence in Mexico.