What is a “Mafia State” and how is one created?

ABSTRACT

How do corrupt practices evolve into the almost complete criminalization of the state, and what are the conditions necessary for a mafia state to emerge? In this article, we trace Venezuela’s political trajectory under President Hugo Chávez and its causal connection to the consolidation of a mafia state under President Nicolás Maduro by identifying critical junctures that occurred under the administrations of Presidents Chávez and Maduro. These critical junctures first laid the foundations for the mafia state, albeit unintentionally, and then allowed and encouraged the criminalization of the state. The incremental abolition of governance institutions started by Chávez and continued by Maduro in the context of dramatic decline in oil production created an ideal environment in which criminal activities could thrive. By the end of this process, Venezuela had evolved into a complex kleptocracy in which no rule of law or institutions were capable of or willing to oppose the executive and its loyal military and irregular force allies. Thus, a mafia state is born.

KEYWORDS:

• Mafia state
• critical juncture
• organized crime
• policy
• Venezuela

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anthea McCarthy-Jones

Dr. Anthea McCarthy-Jones is Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at UNSW Canberra. Her research interests include policymaking in developing nations, Venezuelan politics, illicit business networks, Latin American organized crime and linkages between Latin America, Asia and Australia.

Mark Turner

Prof. Mark Turner is Honorary Professor in the School of Business at UNSW Canberra and Emeritus Professor of Development Policy and Management at the University of Canberra. Mark has undertaken research, consultancy and teaching in many Asia-Pacific countries. He specializes in Asia-Pacific politics, public sector management and development.