Colombia, the drug wars and the politics drug policy displacement – from La Violencia to UNGASS 2016

Collins, John and Alarcón, Karen Torres (2021) Colombia, the drug wars and the politics drug policy displacement – from La Violencia to UNGASS 2016. Journal of Illicit Economies and Development, 3 (2). 190 - 205. ISSN 2516-7227

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Abstract

This article breaks new conceptual ground by questioning orthodox interpretations of nation state agency in the global drug wars. Specifically, it challenges the David vs. Goliath conception of Colombia as a passive, client state simply abiding to the United States’ hegemonic war on drugs. It provides the first published analysis of Colombia’s leadership during the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS) in 2016. It argues that the UN served as a useful forum for Colombia’s displacement of state building dilemmas, including drug control, and that Bogota utilised the UN as a proxy negotiating mechanism with the US and other international donors.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://jied.lse.ac.uk/
Additional Information:	© 2021 The Authors
Divisions:	IGA: United States Centre
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology J Political Science > JL Political institutions (America except United States) J Political Science > JZ International relations
Date Deposited:	24 May 2022 15:21
Last Modified:	17 Apr 2024 22:42
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/115191

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