Democracy and Crime: The Cases of Colombia and South Africa

This paper explores the intersection of democracy and organized crime in Colombia and South Africa, two countries that, despite their geographical distance, share significant socio-political similarities. Both nations fully democratized during the Third Wave and have since experienced high levels of criminal violence. In Colombia, the rise of the illicit narcotics economy since the late 1970s has deeply influenced its political landscape, while South Africa’s high organized crime rates emerged post-apartheid. The study categorizes both countries as defective democracies, characterized by limited electoral competition and significant corruption, which have allowed criminal governance to infiltrate state structures. The paper examines the historical context that has shaped the organized crime-politics nexus in both countries, highlighting the role of regional elites and the impact of socioeconomic inequalities. It argues that the criminalization of representative institutions and the intertwining of licit and illicit actors have undermined democratic legitimacy.