This question is posed on behalf of Santiago Villaveces, member of the practitioners' network.

The Question

I am looking for practical examples that illustrate the diverse ways in which organized crime can manipulate elections?

Thank you.

Santiago Villaveces

Summary of Responses

In the responses it was noted that more money means more power and better reach. Unaccounted for cash can be an influence in terms of ensuring that the ground rules are different for those who avail themselves of this corrupt form of assistance. Seeking of public office is often not a cheap endeavor. Organized Crime can use cash to transform into Political Action Committees and thus influence who is elected and how well a political entity can perform.

Organized Crime can also take other forms, such as that of mobs interfering with the electoral process.

The recent reports of the International Crisis Group on the Guatemalan elections were mentioned as case studies that discuss the topic.

Examples of Related ACE Articles and Resources

Encyclopaedia:

• Prohibited Sources of Funds

Electoral Materials:

• Money in Politics: A Study of Party Financing Practices in 22 Countries (2005)

External Resources

• ICG report on Guatemalan Elections

Names of Contributors

1.       Horacio Boneo

2.       Juma Thomas Otieno

3.       Richard Atwood

4.       Monte McMurchy

Let me paraphrase Elizabeth Barrett

How do I influence thee?  Let me count the ways.

I influence thee to the depth and breadth and height

My money can reach

Mr martin, elections are full of organized crime. The reason is it is a strategy that has worked for many politicians. Sometimes it is called political gangsterism. In the third world context which I am very well conversant with; It can take the form of making your predicament a community or ethnic society's problem(s), this is one way it can take practically. In psychological terms I can call it Emotional Transfer such that what I am suppose to feel another person feels.

As it is practiced, if it is to the candidates advantage then a feeling arises that either s/he is being intimidated if it is negative.

In many instances, mobs are used to interfere with electoral processes work when defeat/loss is sensed. To the extreme when it is used, many peoples lives are lost plus property. It is a serious violation of human rights (right to exercise free will/ right to exist/ right to earn a living/ and right to free expression/ and if it is there, right to perpetuate democracy). Very fundamental rights indeed.

check out our latest report on the Guatemalan elections next September (http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/latin-america/B24%20Guatemala%20%20Clean%20Polls%20Dirty%20Politics.pdf). We'll also publish a report over the next few weeks on local polls in Colombia, which also examines criminal actors' infiltration into politics. Happy to try and answer any questions about either report.

Cash, cash, cash and more cash which if not accounted for in a public directe manner by candidates and or political parties can indeed be an influence in the promotion of corrosive civil cohesion ensuring that the ground rules are indeed different for those who wish to avail themselves of this corrupt form of assistance. Organized Crime which can be transfigured into Political Action Commitees with cash can indeed be an influential factor as to who is elected and how well a political entitiy can perform as elections and the quest for electoral public office is not cheap whether in North America or in the Third World Post Conflict Society. These pedlars of influence provide a corrosive corrupt aspect to the promotion of civil electoral democratic values and principles. These type of financial endeavours must be regulated, controlled and if necessary stopped but how as civic electoral transperency is an ideal which is most difficult to regulate and enforce which might be another element for discussion and dilogue.