Conclusion

Abstract

This chapter concludes the book. It establishes its main contributions to the literature on crime in Latin America, as well as the broader sociological and criminological theories of crime, trust, and signaling in a context where the state does not willingly provide protection in an egalitarian manner. It outlines how the book has sought to contribute to our understanding of kidnapping by entering into a dialogue with the existing literature on crime in Mexico and Latin America, its causes, and its consequences. It also explains how the book has provided a methodologically sound account of the evolution of the crime of kidnapping, and the ways in which communities and individuals navigate the risk of being kidnapped. The chapter also sets out new questions and issues for further research.