http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/authors/4328/amber-waltz Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Mon, 25 May 2026 00:31:28 -0400 Mon, 25 May 2026 00:31:28 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1570/rationally-irrational-applying-the-rational-actor-model-to-rio-de-janeiros-police-gang-conflict By Amber Waltz - Both gangs and police in Rio de Janeiro seemingly operate irrationally in an extended conflict, as it is highly unlikely that the state will make drug dealing legal, and it is also unlikely that gangs would be able to destroy the police through armed force. This article attempts to determine why favela gangs and police became and are still engaged in a conflict with what some see as an inevitable outcome, using the rational actor model to determine the motivations and strategies of each side. This article finds that because gangs understand their importance to Rio's society and depend on the income... Tue, 31 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1570/rationally-irrational-applying-the-rational-actor-model-to-rio-de-janeiros-police-gang-conflict