Title:
Social Fabric Fracture and Strategies for Its Reconstruction in a Community on the Outskirts of Acapulco, Gro., Mexico.

Authors:
José Francisco Cabrera Cruz, Teresa de Jesús Rivas Pérez, Rubén Hernández Chavarría, Irma Amalia Méndez Castrejón, Mexico

Abstract:

This research addresses the disarticulation of the social fabric in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Acapulco, Mexico, resulting from criminal violence and insecurity that has plagued the city and much of the country for over two decades. This work aims to provide a clear picture of how everyday violence and conflict have disrupted trust and solidarity in the Cinco de Mayo community (the study site), in Acapulco. Consequently, through a qualitative and ethnographic approach, the research examines how neighborhood disputes, the lack of public services, and institutional distrust have fractured family and community bonds. Through a qualitative, participatory action research approach, alternatives are proposed for the reclamation of public spaces and the strengthening of community identity. The reconstruction of the social fabric is presented not merely as a theoretical concept, but as a social urgency to restore peace and cohesion to the population of this area of Acapulco. The study was conducted with a sample of volunteers from the Cinco de Mayo community, which included high school students, their parents, and senior citizens who have resided in the area for over 30 years. The results reveal a communication gap between parents and children, as well as low citizen participation driven by fear, following years of security crises. The document concludes with a strategic proposal for social reconstruction through the strengthening of local leadership, vocational workshops, and neighborhood care committees. In this manner, the study seeks to transform community identity and reclaim public spaces to foster a culture of peace in one of the city's most vulnerable areas.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51505/IJEBMR.2026.1209