Despite the presence of organized crime in northeastern Mexico, the region has a functioning economy that attracts new investment to energy projects, especially those involving fossil fuels. This may be because legal and illegal markets there tend to overlap and function under hybrid governance schemes. The hybridization of governance is an expression of the fact that legality and illegality are embedded in contemporary capitalist markets. This embeddedness is not an abnormal condition but the way in which societies deal locally with organized crime, and violence serves as the primary regulatory mechanism in disputed territories and markets. A pesar de la presencia del crimen organizado en el noreste de México, la región tiene una economía funcional que atrae nuevas inversiones a proyectos energéticos, especialmente aquellos relacionados con combustibles fósiles. Esto puede deberse a que, ahí, los mercados legales e ilegales tienden a solaparse y funcionar en el marco de los sistemas de gobernanza híbrida. La hibridación de la gobernanza es una expresión del hecho de que la legalidad y la ilegalidad están incrustadas en los mercados capitalistas contemporáneos. Dicha incrustación no es una condición anormal, sino la forma en que las sociedades se ocupan localmente del crimen organizado, y la violencia sirve como el principal mecanismo regulador en los territorios y mercados en disputa.

Across the world, violence-inducing rumors about crime have triggered spectacular displays of violence. We argue that, in addition to other components, appeals to the untrustworthiness of government authorities constitute a central component of the DNA of violence-inducing rumors. Indeed, a component that allows those circulating rumors to persuade individuals of their credibility and importance. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an original laboratory experiment among students in a rural community in Mexico. We find evidence that appeals to the untrustworthiness of government increase citizens' perceptions of the credibility, importance and shareability of the message. Further, we find individuals perceiving rumors as more credible, important, and sharable to be more likely to incite others to commit violence against alleged criminals when given a chance. The results of this study have broad implications for our understanding of the psychology of rumor sharing and the emergence of extralegal violence.

Rumors about crime have triggered spectacular displays of violence. Why do citizens believe and share these messages? We argue that, in addition to other components, appeals to the untrustworthiness of government authorities constitute a central component of the DNA of violenceinducing rumors. Indeed, a component that allows those circulating rumors to persuade individuals of their credibility and importance. To test this hypothesis, we conducted an original laboratory experiment among students in a rural community in Mexico. We find evidence that appeals to the untrustworthiness of government increase citizens' perceptions of the credibility, importance and shareability of the message. Further, we find individuals perceiving rumors as more credible, important, and sharable to be more likely to incite others to commit violence against alleged criminals when given a chance. The results of this study have broad implications for our understanding of the psychology of rumor sharing and the emergence of extralegal violence.