Homicides in Amazonas: between drug trafficking faction disputes and socioeconomic inequalities

Abstract

The study analyzes the relationship between homicides and socioeconomic inequalities in the state of Amazonas, considering indicators of education, income, and unemployment. A quantitative survey of homicide rates between 2012 and 2022 and of socioeconomic indicators, for comparative purposes, covering the period from 2012 to 2023, was conducted, complemented by a narrative literature review in the Web of Science, PubMed, and CAPES Journals databases. The results indicate that municipalities with low levels of education, high unemployment rates, and low average income present higher homicide rates. Furthermore, it was observed that territorial disputes between drug trafficking factions intensified violence during the defined period. Homicides in Amazonas result from the interaction between socioeconomic inequalities and the forms of expansion of organized crime, which takes advantage of this vulnerability to expand its control. In this sense, the need to articulate public policies that integrate public security with the promotion of education and economic development is highlighted.