(EN) Surveillance, Territory and the Rule of Law in Mexico City

Abstract

The rule of law in Mexico City has been an elusive political goal since an adequate framework has not been enforced with sufficient legitimacy. However, the official discourse has presented a false dilemma between maximum security undermining civil rights and minimal intervention that fosters crime. The present article argues that the lack of respect for legal means by the authorities has produced citizen disrespect for civic codes. In order to address this situation, the legal framework, social regulation mechanisms and ethical principles in society must undergo major adjustments. Social solidarity and the creation of “spaces of trust” among citizens may entail interweaving social control of space, surveillance and the rule of law to lead the way towards social integration and civic participation in the immediate future.