Evangelical Wings and the assamblege of prison governance in Argentina

Abstract

Since the mid-eighties evangelical wings have proliferated in some provinces in Argentina. These wings are areas within male prisons which have a peculiar hierarchy and a set of rules and dynamics legitimised through religion. These areas enjoy considerable autonomy from prison officers and authorities. Due to its complexity - and in view of its recent expansion - this phenomenon takes on added importance in terms of the articulations it generates with regard to prison governance. In this article, we explore their governance assemblage. Firstly, we analyse the hierarchy, positions and roles generated inside these blocks. Secondly, we describe the different strategies used there to maintain order. Finally we present an interpretation of this assemblage of prison governance, as a form of "shared"but also - sometimes - "contested"governance, that includes strong levels of negotiation between state and non-state agents and generates dislocation of governance capacity between transfer and conquest.