University:
University of Wyoming
Course:
POLS4445 | Drug War Geopolitics in the Americas
Academic year:

2023
Views:

66

Pages:

1
Author:

Allison B.

500 años de terrorismo, different wasps are flying out of the US towards Latin America, the narrative pamphlet names a few as missionaries, pilgrims, and conquistadors. The slogan across the top refers to graffiti slogan, "Plan Colombia = Plan Colonia". Plan Columbia is on display with this portion of the piece and its different objectives. More broadly though, neocolonialism coupled with more traditional colonial aspects portray a broader picture of colonialism and US involvement. The wasp the artist describes as the judge, "bringing in the white mans' concept of time and the law" (Narrative Pamphlet 2) relates to the Leahy Law and the US's attempts to promote human rights through the Colombian state military (Tate 91) (ignoring proxy groups receiving funding as well as DEA) in the late nineties. Popular Culture's Influence, with the wasps in the United States, California is depicted as Governor Schwarzenegger (Narrative Pamphlet 4) stoking Hollywoods portrayal of the drug war with popular movies and television shows that depicted Columbia as a danger zone and third world (Tate 35). According to Tate, "Drug-trafficking violence became a staple of American popular culture." (35) In addition to blockbusters, news coverage of the drug war fostered "national hysteria" (35) and portrayed the US's intervention as necessary and the rule of law. This is still true today, pop culture depicting drug trafficking and trade are popular. Although some fictional media shifts away from the traditional dichotomy of the US being morally right and there for the Latin American country's interest, the mainstream narrative and beliefs of some US citizens then and now, is that the US is in Latin American fighting the drug war in efficient/humane ways that benefit both Latin America and the US. Cocaine use for tradition/licit purposes vs. Cocaine production, this part of the spiral shows that using coca for traditional and licit purposes is culturally driven but unlike for cocaine or illicit consumption, is not profitable. The traditional side is using a wood burning fire where the cocaine side is using a gas heater, showing this divide in wealth. Additionally, the coca is being given to the younger generation where the cocaine is being shipped to the US. This relates to Tate, particularly is the Putumayo region and southern Columbia because coca was not native in the region and was brought to the region initially as a cash crop. But became a "godsend" to the population economically, "peasants could ... make coca past with a high profit margin and guaranteed market." (Tate 113)