The article traces the historical lineage of political violence in Mexico and Colombia, underscoring significant events such as Colombia's War of a Thousand Days in 1899 and the assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán in 1948, which marked the beginning of a violent era known as 'La Violencia.' Similarly, it mentions the Mexican Revolution of 1911, which ignited intense factional struggles, eventually quelled by President Lázaro Cárdenas in 1934. Over time, both nations' violent actors transitioned towards financing their operations through the drug trade, significantly impacting their socio-political landscapes.

The political measures adopted by Colombian President Álvaro Uribe (2002-2010) and Mexican President Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) are highlighted as pivotal moments in each country's struggle against violence. Uribe successfully confronted the guerrilla group FARC, yet remnants of these groups morphed into drug traffickers. Meanwhile, Calderón's aggressive stance against drug lords led to the dismantling of cartels but resulted in unprecedented violence due to the fragmentation of these groups. Both leaders’ strategies have had lasting repercussions on the countries' current security environments.

The insights from political scientist Benjamin Lessing, who has studied both countries and the rise of violence in places like Rio de Janeiro, suggest that drug traffickers have begun to see themselves as legitimate entrepreneurs, which alters the perception of crime within these societies. This shift may imply broader implications for governance and law enforcement in dealing with organized crime, necessitating a reconsideration of how states approach security and drug policies in the present day.