From narco-traffickers to narco-militias: overlapped territorial configurations on the outskirts of Belém

Abstract

The territorial urban conflicts in Belém in recent years have reproduced a political-territorial scenario, in which the metropolis is suffering the perverse effects of the actions of armed groups that impose the logic of urban violence. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the overlapping territorial configurations that involve groups of narco-traffickers and militias on the outskirts of Belém, since they reflect the existence of other non-exclusive powers of the State. The methodology includes a literature review, analysis of documents, and fieldwork, with systematic observations and interviews. Narco-traffickers and militias underlie a rational calculation that influences the actions and thinking of the individuals who make up the territories.