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

2023
Views:

317

Pages:

1
Author:

Allison B.

Our readings this week all discussed how narcotics/the Drug War have impacted the political economy of Latin American countries, the capitalism with the Drug War, and environmental factors in the creation of narcotics. McSweeny/Pearson analyzed the relationship between clandestine narcotics activities and environmental degradation. In order to fully understand how the environment is impacted, it is necessary to understand the broader economic and political situations created by the Drug War and supply-side policy. The authors establish two characteristics of the war that are particularly important to be drug prohibition and drug interdiction (6). I found the closing statements of this article to relate strongly to the political economy and environmental themes of the week, it isn’t the “narco-bourgeoisie” who suffer (economically or not) (19), its average citizens, and the environment. I agree with this statement and ask us to consider how these environmental degradations negatively impact people of color, indigenous populations, and women. Bartilow discussed how US drug enforcement represses indigenous Latin American communities, specifically citing the Plan Columbia policy. Examples of indigenous repression directly relate to the McSweeny/Pearson article, and how DEA/Narcotic policies impact a country’s economy and environmental standards impact average citizens, when its the “narco-bourgeoisie” and policy calling the shots. Mejia/Restrepo discussed the operationalization of narcotic policy in Latin America. And essentially finds that the majority of prohibitionist Drug War policy has very high costs and is ineffective (27). A clear correlation between violence/murder rates and the cocaine supply from Columbia is correlated, relating to last weeks’ lecture/readings that drug policy/trafficking and crime are tied.