Controlling connectivity: the impact of expanding road networks on criminal violence

This dissertation analyzes the impact of new connectivity on violence. It specifically shows the relationship between road investments and organized criminal activity. I argue that the construction of new infrastructural projects creates new economic opportunities, especially in small and medium municipalities. The improvement in the local economy creates a new set of opportunities that attracts the attention of organized criminal groups (OCG). These groups transplant to these new territories in hopes of retaining new payoffs. As a result, these regions often experience significant increases in their OCG competition, leading to spikes in local homicide rates. Analyzing the case of Brazil, this study shows that the construction of new roads increases approximately four additional homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in a given year. I dissect this finding by performing 11 months of fieldwork in Ceará to identify how criminal organizations disperse their presence into previously unoccupied territory. I show how criminal organizations have evolved in the state due to significant changes in the local economy, leading Ceará to become one of the most violent states in Brazil.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Ribeiro, Felipe

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Soifer, Hillel David

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Stanton, Jessica A., 1978-
• Ziegfeld, Adam
• Durán-Martínez, Angélica, 1979-

• Political science
• Criminal organization
• Infrastructure
• Latin America
• Roads
• Violence

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholarshare.temple.edu/handle/20.500.12613/12104

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/12104