Parallel Power

A sweeping account of how Latin America overthrew Cold War dictators, fell under the rule of cartels and criminal empires, and set off forces of migration and power that reshaped the future of the Americas.

Organized crime is a global phenomenon, but nowhere has it evolved as rapidly—or as dangerously—as in Latin America. Over the past decade, criminal organizations across the region have grown into hyper-powerful enterprises, adapting to government crackdowns while capitalizing on booming global demand for cocaine, illegal gold, and human smuggling. Flush with cash, they pushed deep into politics, law enforcement, and legitimate business, reshaping entire countries from Mexico to Chile.
In Parallel Power, Will Freeman delivers a gripping account of this transformation and its consequences for democracy and daily life.

Drawing on vivid on-the-ground reporting, firsthand testimony, and expert analysis, the book reveals how criminal networks built parallel states—corrupting courts, hijacking economies, and terrorizing communities. What emerges is a timely portrait of a continent at a crossroads, as millions of people from Guatemala to Brazil struggle to reclaim safety, dignity, and control over their future.