Abstract

Introduction: This article examines the current capacity of the state to address the crisis of insecurity and violence in Latin America from a political philosophical perspective. The study focuses on the role of the state in the face of serious public problems such as crime, insecurity and violence, in a context marked by globalization, capitalism and hostility within national territories. Methodology: The methodology combines the analysis of classic primary sources of state theory and contemporary perspectives with the collection of secondary information on violence, delinquency, and organized crime at the regional and comparative levels. Results: The results confirm the validity of the state crisis, manifested in terms of rationality, violence, sovereignty, legitimacy, and authority, in line with approaches of classical thinkers such as Hobbes, Weber, Schmitt, and Freund. Discussions: It is argued that the increase in levels of violence, criminality and insecurity has generated inaction and indecision on the part of states in their efforts to neutralize conflicts, especially in Latin America, where historically there has been an absence of a fully developed social state. Conclusions: The study highlights the need to understand and improve state capacities to address these contemporary challenges. © 2025, HISIN (History of Information Systems). All rights reserved.