Challenges of organised community resistance in the context of illicit economies and drug war policies: insights from Colombia

Alejandra Vélez, María and Lobo, Iván (2019) Challenges of organised community resistance in the context of illicit economies and drug war policies: insights from Colombia. Journal of Illicit Economies and Development, 1 (1). pp. 72-79. ISSN 2516-7227

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Abstract

The voice and role of communities, particularly their capacity to organise and resist, has been understudied in the specialised literature on illicit crops and largely ignored in policy debates. Based on ongoing research in Colombia, this policy paper explores the capacity of communities to organise and resist – as a manifestation of cultural and social capital – in the context of illicit economies. The paper argues that in the context of weak states, the effectiveness of drug policies could be enhanced by drawing upon and investing in communities’ organisational capacity and active local leadership to increase the non-monetary benefits of eradication and substitution. Acknowledging how resistance reflects the experiences of communities and responds to their different needs, the paper offers relevant insights for policy that can inform drug policy formulation in Colombia and similar contexts.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2019 The Authors
Divisions:	LSE
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2019 15:24
Last Modified:	09 Nov 2024 08:06
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/100325

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