Despite the rapid urbanization of African societies, the socio-economic changes associated with urbanization are not having the political effects that many expected. This book contributes to understanding African urbanization, political behavior, and the ability of developing societies to transition away from clientelism.

This book is for scholars, students, journalists, and policy makers who study criminal violence, narco wars, transitions to democracy, corruption, and Mexican and Latin American politics. It analyzes the outbreak and intensification of Mexico's crime wars, revealing the political foundations of large-scale criminal violence in new democracies.