Summary

Through interviews and a large-scale survey, this project mobilised public opinion and motivated policymakers to address the sharp increase in gang-related violence in Montevideo, Uruguay. Dr Tiscornia and the research team collected data about over 2,600 neighbourhood residents’ experiences with criminal gangs. The team learned that, in the sample, gangs exhibit both nonviolent behaviours (like receiving donations, or the provision of basic goods) and violent ones (like threats or evictions). As a result, leading media outlets (including newspapers, tv, radio) with nationwide coverage reached out to learn more about the findings and disseminate the work, mobilising public opinion. Politicians and policymakers (both local and international) also approached the team to learn about the project and used it as a basis to design new policies and to make cabinet members in Uruguay accountable.

Research description

Using innovative tools adapted to identify hidden populations, the team found that 15 to 25 percent of the sample had been exposed to various gang behaviours. Based on prior research in other contexts, a higher prevalence of violent behaviours relative to nonviolent ones was expected, but it was found that nonviolent behaviours are equally common. This suggests that lessons from other contexts cannot be directly applied to Uruguay.

68 in-depth interviews were conducted between 2021 and 2023, and a survey of over 2,600 residents between January and March 2023, to investigate the behaviour of criminal gangs in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Existing research on Latin American criminal gangs suggests that these groups are present in very violent parts of the world, and in geographical areas lacking government services. For this reason, it was surprising to observe them in Uruguay, a country where violence is low and government services are extensive. This project is the first systematic exploration of criminal gangs in Uruguay, and the first to devise a theory of gang behaviour in the case of a location with low violence and high welfare provision in Latin America. The research found that maintaining extensive government services is key to keeping gangs from growing and consolidating. These findings have contributed to raising awareness of this problem among the citizenry and informing the policymaking process.

RESEARCH IMPACT

ACADEMIC IMPACT

This project is the first of its kind and has the potential to make an important academic contribution. Because the research examines the extent of criminal presence and behaviour in places not covered by current studies, the findings provide new evidence and present a new theory on the topic. This was presented at 16 academic events, including two by invitation (Oxford University and Dublin City University). A manuscript outlining preliminary findings is forthcoming and three others are currently under review. In line with Open Research best practices, the study was preregistered to improve transparency and to share methods and processes with other researchers.

POLITICAL IMPACT

This project created unprecedented dialogue at the national level in Uruguay about a topic that is difficult to research and for which there is currently no existing policy. The project was the first of its kind and provided evidence for policymaking. The research team discussed the results with representatives of the Ministry of Interior with a view to making future changes to the existing security policy. Representatives of the Ministry publicly highlighted the value of the research findings and the Minister subsequently held a press conference discussing the findings.

Nicolás Martinelli, Minister of Interior: “The Ministry of Interior is working to strengthen the relationship between the political system and academic researchers. The results of this research will be used to evaluate the security policy and either support our chosen policies or correct them if necessary.”

Early in 2024 the government began implementing a pilot program with the goal of mitigating gang violence in Uruguay. The project directly influenced this program by raising awareness and providing evidence for change. Diego Sanjurjo, Coordinator of Crime Prevention Strategies, Ministry of Interior: “The Ministry is already implementing some of the recommendations [in the project]. The conclusions have produced important insights and input for public policy, which represents an important qualitative change for security policy in Uruguay”

The Uruguayan Parliament discussed the conclusions of the project in an open session with the aim of holding the Minister of Interior to account for failing to implement adequate security policies. The project team participated in closed-door meetings with political parties to discuss the findings and inform the policy process. The parliamentary commissioner for the prison system requested the researchers’ input in planning a policy discussion forum in December 2023, where they engaged in dialogue with civil society organisations, activists, and policymakers. This forum was attended by a live audience and also generated 276 views on Youtube.

The team participated in two closed-door meetings with international donors (the US Embassy in Uruguay and the Interamerican Development Bank (IADB)). During the meeting with the IADB, IADB's program officers stated that the project's findings will aid in defining new lines of action and support for countries in the region, particularly Uruguay.

SOCIAL IMPACT

The research findings attracted significant media attention. Less than three weeks after their official presentation, 10 national media outlets (including radio, TV, and print media), which all had national coverage, contacted the team to learn more and disseminate the findings of the project. This led to interviews about the project and discussions of the findings appearing in leading newspaper outlets, such as La Diaria, El Observador, El País and Brecha. International journalists also contacted the team, leading to the publication of an investigative report by InsightCrime, a media organisation and think tank dedicated to the study of organised crime in Latin America.

The research informed public debate on issues related to violence in Montevideo. The press coverage registered thousands of views, highlighting the importance of this topic among citizens. This included 5,400 views on Youtube (plus the attendance of a live audience) for En Perspectiva, and 4,665 views for a post on X of Canal 5 Noticias. As a result, the team were approached by some of the original interviewees to present the research findings in the communities where the qualitative interviews had been conducted, directly highlighting the importance of the research on the community.