Membership, Structure and Rivalries of Youth Gangs in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

This article examines the relationships of violent rivalry among youth gangs in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Based on extensive fieldwork on multiple gangs, the authors discuss how gang rivalries are structured and renewed over decades. Through this in-depth examination of the role of rivalry in determining the structure and membership in these gangs, the authors discuss how the characteristics observed can contribute to the existing international literature on youth gangs.