In his book " Los cárteles no existen: Narcotráfico y cultura en México
" (2018), Oswaldo Zavala argues that the popular image of drug cartels—as all-powerful, autonomous criminal empires—is a myth constructed by official state narratives.
Rather than a "deep story" in the sense of a fictional narrative, the book is a critical essay that dismantles the language used by governments and media to justify militarization. Key Arguments of the Book
Discursive Invention: Zavala claims "cartels" are a linguistic tool used by Mexican and U.S. authorities to simplify a complex illegal market and justify state violence and military intervention. Los Carteles No Existen Oswaldo Zavala Pdf Gratis
The Real Power: He suggests that instead of independent crime bosses, the true power behind the drug trade lies within official structures: politicians, corporations, and the military.
Cultural Myth-Making: Media, including "narconovelas," films like Sicario, and series like Narcos, reinforce this state-sponsored mythology by focusing on mythical "capos" rather than the underlying political reality.
Depoliticized Violence: By framing violence as a war between rival cartels, the government can evade responsibility for social issues like economic inequality and unemployment that contribute to unrest. Where to Find It In his book " Los cárteles no existen:
While you can find summaries and excerpts on sites like ResearchGate or Academia.edu, the full digital book is typically available through legitimate ebook retailers and libraries:
Google Books/Play: Offers previews and digital purchase options for Los cárteles no existen.
OverDrive: You can check your local library's availability for the eBook version. Resumen breve El libro rompe con la narrativa
Lectulandia: A popular community platform that often hosts community-shared versions for reading.
El libro rompe con la narrativa tradicional que presenta a los narcotraficantes como “reyes” o “señores del crimen”. Zavala argumenta que los llamados “carteles” son construcciones mediáticas y políticas que simplifican una realidad mucho más compleja:
Oswaldo Zavala es un periodista, analista de seguridad y autor mexicano especializado en el estudio del narcotráfico y la violencia en América Latina. Con más de dos décadas de experiencia en el terreno, ha colaborado con medios como El Universal, Proceso y BBC Mundo. Sus trabajos combinan investigación de campo, acceso a fuentes oficiales y un estilo narrativo que busca desmitificar mitos populares.