On Resisting Extortion—From Everyday Resistance to Vigilantism

Abstract

Resisting Extortion, by Eduardo Moncada, masterfully disentangles the logic and dimensions of criminal extortion, as well as the various ways in which communities seek to resist this and other forms of criminal activity. In this book, Moncada argues that criminals’ time horizons largely dictate the subsequent forms of civil resistance, which are simultaneously affected by the criminal capture of the police, as well as the prevailing relationships among local businesses and between businesses and political authorities. With major conceptual clarity, Moncada disentangles and reframes the complex phenomena that underlie extortion dynamics. Through careful comparative research, Moncada provides a new and fresh understanding of both extortion and collective action, across three different countries. Resisting Extortion is a major contribution at different levels, from theory development to comparative analysis, as well as a robust research design and extensive fieldwork. Readers across academic fields, along with activists and journalists, will benefit from the book’s insights on the effective organization and resistance strategies in the face of crime and insecurity.