Use incentives, not brute force, on the cartels, says a political scientist

LATIN AMERICA’S struggles with crime and violence are both tragic and puzzling. Decades of mano dura crackdowns have only made things worse. Even relatively peaceful and prosperous countries have seen neighbourhood gangs band together into city- and nation-wide coalitions, governing vast urban areas. Imprisoned leaders order street attacks, hoping to force concessions, such as transfers to lower-security prisons. Kingpin killings by security forces and extraditions spark bloody succession battles.