Join us for a book launch celebrating Gema Kloppe-Santamaría’s (CCAS-History) new book, In the Vortex of Violence: Lynching, Extralegal Justice, and the State in Post-Revolutionary Mexico!

Based on a collection of previously untapped sources, In the Vortex of Violence examines why lynching became a persistent practice during a period otherwise characterized by political stability and decreasing levels of violence. It explores how state formation processes, as well as religion, perceptions of crime, and mythical beliefs, contributed to shaping people’s understanding of lynching as a legitimate form of justice. Extending the history of lynching beyond the United States, Kloppe-Santamaría offers key insights into the cultural, historical, and political reasons behind the violent phenomenon and its continued practice in Latin America today.