Mexico's ‘Gandalla’ Culture Leading to Violence, Corruption

It's Thursday, 6:15 p.m. You left the office a bit later because your boss asked you to fill out a file that his boss had requested three weeks earlier. For the same reason, you skipped lunch, and your wife is waiting for you at home with your favorite dish. It hasn't stopped raining since last Tuesday; your city becomes a complete mess when it rains. You're stuck in the usual lane, the one you must take to get home: 35 cars ahead of you, you count them. Then Raúl, the accounting manager, in his white BMW, passes you and the 34 cars in front, and slips into the very front of the line. He didn't have to wait the 25 minutes you're about to spend in that lane. 

What do you do next? Do you swallow your anger and stay in line? Or do you take the other lane and sneak to the front? 

If you're one of those who cuts to the front, congratulations! You're part of the problem that has plunged Mexico into a spiral of violence. 

Harsh? Yes. True? Also yes. 

Let's break it down. The word "Gandalla" is not recognized by the Royal Spanish Academy. It appears only in the Dictionary of Mexican Spanish by El Colegio de México: 

Gandalla. Adjective/common noun. Colloquial – MÉXICO. A person who is abusive and has bad intentions. 

This is a purely Mexican cultural trait, independent of social class, economic status, or academic background. Perhaps it can be explained by the education we receive at home, or maybe not even that is a determining factor (I know people who grew up in naturally "Gandalla" households and are now outstanding citizens). A Gandalla is the one who double-parks "just for a minute," who takes the disabled parking spot, who cuts in the tortilla line, who crosses under the pedestrian bridge, who blocks the public road in front of their store. It's the one who throws a party by closing off the street, who runs red lights, who takes office supplies home for their kids' homework, who schedules fake meetings to leave work early, who steals ideas to get promoted, who pays a "moche" (bribe) to win a contract. 

Why do I believe these seemingly minor acts are the seed of the violent Mexico we live in today? Because they break rules without consequence. Worse yet, they seem to be rewarded. The one who cuts in line gets there first. The one who blocks the street saves money on a venue. The one who steals office paper buys their child a toy. The Gandalla boss becomes a "Top Voice" on LinkedIn. The businessperson who pays under the table gets more contracts.

Young people see this. They've seen it for years, and it has a multiplying effect on our society. It's a culture of shortcuts, of "nothing happens." But things do happen. 

Don’t believe me? Take a walk down Paseo de la Reforma. You'll see hundreds of street vendors who pay "piso" (protection fees) instead of taxes. Why? Because someone in the local office figured out how to do it without consequences, under the false pretense of "supporting small vendors." But the entrepreneur who did pay for permits, taxes, rent, and payroll? They're punished. Again, the message is clear: following the rules doesn't pay. 

This system that rewards wrongdoing when there's a profit involved is what fuels violence and corruption. In the past, drug lords hid in the mountains. Today, they flaunt their weapons on social media, have songs written about them, offer guided tours of their mansions, and even have clothing lines featuring their name and image. Our youth no longer aspire to be professionals or artists; they dream of selling "clones" of clothing, of joining those paramilitary-like groups that are better armed than our own forces, of making easy money, of living the narco lifestyle. 

And I'm not exaggerating when I say this is an exponential phenomenon. Take the example of Acamoto. 

If you're not from Mexico, let me explain: Acamoto is a motorcycle festival that started in 1990 as a ride from Mexico City to Acapulco. Originally, it was tied to the "Acafest," a music festival that ended in 2005. But the motorcycle ride continued. First came the public alcohol consumption, then other substances, then illegal racing ... all without consequences. Every year, the chaos gets slightly worse than the previous year. But just barely, because the bar is measured against the overall violence in the country at that time. In the latest event, eight people died and more than 10 were seriously injured. 

Does it sound exaggerated to say that the person who invades the Metrobús lane "just for a moment" contributes to this? Because that exact thing happened just last month. And no one talks about it anymore. Because since then, there have been over 1,900 more murders in Mexico. Yes, you read that right. Impunity escalates — and not only that, we see it, ignore it, and add to it through small daily actions. 

Because for you, dear reader, maybe cutting into the lane to exit to Periférico means not being late to work, keeping your punctuality bonus. But for the child in the car 10 vehicles behind you, who is riding with his parents to school, he saw something else: he saw his father stuck in traffic while the rule-breaker got ahead. That the person who educates him, his hero, made the wrong choice by respecting the law. In short, he learned that those who break the law win. That those who play fair lose. "El que no tranza, no avanza." "Con dinero baila el perro." "Si te duermes, te lleva la corriente." 

I'm not trying to be “Ned Flanders,” nor pretend I've never crossed the line. We all make mistakes, and real urgencies do exist. But we must be responsible. Let's slowly change the narrative that is dragging our society into the abyss. It's not about banning narco songs; it's about making people stop seeing that lifestyle as aspirational. We should be ashamed of ill-gotten money. We should feel sorrow when hearing about a murder, not chant it in unison at a sold-out concert.

So, what do I propose? In Japan, if someone is late to work, they don't make excuses, they apologize and take responsibility. That's my proposal: Let's take ownership of our actions. Let's improve 1% each day. We will fail, yes, but we can apologize and keep trying. Not for a political party. Not for a government. For our children, who today see violence as more desirable than university. Let's teach them that education is worth more than money. Because money gets lost. Knowledge does not. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Let's connect on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristian-marrol/