A Contemporary Challenge to State Sovereignty: Gangs and Other Illicit Transnational Criminal Organizations (Tcos) in Central America, El Salvador, Mexico, Jamaica, and Brazil

Another kind of war within the context of a "clash of civilizations" is being waged in various parts of the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere around the world today. Some of the main protagonists are those who have come to be designated as first-second-, and third-generation street gangs, as well as their various possible allies such as traditional Transnational Criminal Organizations. In this new type of war, national security and sovereignty of affected countries is being impinged every day, and gangs' illicit commercial motives are, in fact, becoming an ominous political agenda.

Dr. Max Manwaring holds the General Douglas MacArthur Chair and is Professor of Military Strategy at the U.S. Army War College.