‘Facções’ from Fortaleza and ‘Colectivos’ from Caracas: Two Models of Criminal Governance

Abstract

This paper makes a comparison of the criminal governance carried out by the Guardioes do Estado de Fortaleza, Brazil, and the Alexis Vive and La Piedrita Collectives in Caracas, Venezuela. Comparing their origins, the use they make of violence, their ability to establish norms and impose punishments, the sources of income, the way of obtaining legitimacy and the type of link with the State, it is concluded that there are two different models of criminal governance, which differ in the way in which economic profit and political dominance goals are prioritized.