Analysis Of Midnight In Mexico By Alfredo Corchado

In his book Midnight in Mexico, Alfredo Corchado chronicles a major death threat he has had pinned against him as a reporter in Mexico documenting the truth about cartel violence. Throughout the book, Corchado addresses how the citizens of Mexico react to him as an American reporter, their knowledge of the cartel violence, and what their hopes for the future of Mexico are. Though the account of his events is largely negative, mainly due to the possibility of a looming death threat, Corchado continually expresses hope for Mexico. He expresses hope that Mexico will find the right timing to create more opportunities, more equality, and more justice. Corchado begins his recollection in 2007, the night he gets a call from a US investigator that worked …show more content…
Cartel violence had been limited under the dictatorial PRI party; they had to fly under the radar to avoid being targeted by the government. But by the late 1980’s, the call for democratic reform and the election of officials other than PRI members led to a fracturing of the PRI’s power. Without a strong central authority, the cartel violence and drug traffic grew to unprecedented proportions. “More than 200,000 people have been killed or have disappeared since Mexico's government declared war on organised crime in December 2006.” Another reason for the increase in organized crime was the stagnation of the economy caused by NAFTA. Farmers, unable to compete with subsidized U.S. agriculture, abandoned their land and moved to slum housing on the edge of Mexico City. Others turned to growing marijuana and poppies to survive. These unemployed city-dwellers created a pool for the cartel to recruit from. The poorly paid police and military were bought and corrupted, leading to an increase in petty crime and a decrease in society