: Utilizing "muscle" or "buying" votes to ensure friendly candidates win.
: While the state looks democratic, those who challenge the status quo (journalists, activists, or honest prosecutors) often face the same violence associated with traditional organized crime. 5. Can a Mafia Democracy Be Reformed? mafia democracy pdf
: In regions where cartels dictate local appointments and control territory, democracy becomes a "narco-democracy," where the ballot box is secondary to the bullet. : Utilizing "muscle" or "buying" votes to ensure