Staying Power: Strategies for Weathering Criminal Violence in Marginal Neighborhoods of Medellín and Monterrey

Abstract Criminal violence in Latin American cities is increasing. Meanwhile, with urbanization, greater numbers of people are moving to and into the crossfire. What self-protection strategies do residents adopt keep safe violent cities? Drawing on qualitative data from Medellín, Colombia, Monterrey, Mexico, we document use stay safe. We synthesize insights studies civil war, criminal governance, urban construct an analytical framework systematically catalog name these strategies. posit that type face—indiscriminate or targeted—influences they pursue. Responding either indiscriminate targeted form, employ survival avoid, withstand, confront violence. Our research underscores centrality agency for residents’ “staying power” amid