What Have We Learned from the War on Drugs. An Assessment of Mexico's Counternarcotics Strategy.

摘要

Forty years ago, U.S. President Richard Nixon declared war on drugs. From the beginning, the United States has pursued a strategy focused on the supply-side of the issue, emphasizing eradication, interdiction, and incarceration and has pressured the government of Mexico to employ the same strategy at every opportunity. However, over the course of time, the U.S. and Mexican governments have pursued the strategy dictated by Washington to relatively little effect. Now, in the face of increasing power and autonomy among the drug cartels, Mexico is acting independently to combat the rising levels of drug-related violence. Despite the apparent absence of pressure from the United States, or evidence of likely success, Mexico is still taking action straight out of the U.S. playbook. This thesis will examine Mexico's role in the drug war alongside the United States. Specifically, it will examine the strategic convergence of the two countries' anti-narcotics policies and their enhanced bilateral cooperation since 1969. It ultimately asks the question: why have the two countries moved together in the pursuit of a strategy that has not equated to success in the drug war. Studying bilateral drug policies should enable us to identify lessons learned and more effectively coordinate efforts aimed at drug trafficking.