Theoretical approaches to crime, violence, insecurity, and the crisis of the State

Abstract

The modern political unit known as the State is currently experiencing a significant crisis, particularly in Latin America. The purpose of this paper is to revisit the concept of state crisis as presented in Julien Freund's 1982 political science article, “The Crisis of the State”. Specifically, this paper will examine the crisis of rationality, violence, and sovereignty, and use these theoretical approaches to analyze current public issues such as criminality, violence, and insecurity. These issues pose significant challenges for Latin American countries with a history of state fragility. It is important to note that this paper aims to maintain a balanced and objective perspective throughout. The article presents the notion of State crisis, its intervening factors, and its current validity. It is based on a methodology of theoretical and critical analysis of the position of the French sociologist and other authors related to the theory of the State. Additionally, the article discusses the significance of examining the State's deviation from its primary function of ensuring internal concord, order, and external security, which results in a decline in its political power.