Nexus - 0704 - New Times Magazine-pages

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In the foregoing paragraphs I have built an analytical frame- and dynamics that might explain the flourishing of both drug work for studying the underlying dynamics, outcomes and conse- economies and new regulatory frameworks for 'state' control. quences of the War on Drugs. Thereby, I've tried to show how Therewith, I hope to elaborate a theory of the International the growth of global networks of crime and the internationalisa- Drug Complex. This theory tries to explain both the prolongation tion of law enforcement are shaped by some fundamental changes of the War on Drugs and the flourishing of the drug economy, by in the global political and economic system. I've also focused on focusing on political and economic interests that shape relations how the War on Drugs is likely to be subverted by interests of between drug markets and state interventions in these markets. both drug entrepreneurs and the powers that are called in to con- The basic hypotheses I try to further are that the dynamics with- trol the drug industry. Through their symbiotic and systemic in and between the social forces at both sides of the law do not interactions, they are the most likely beneficiaries of this war. tend to keep each other in check, but, rather, reinforce each other, As their interactions take place in a competitive world with either by acting in concert or through more systemic interactions. unevenly distributed resources, the out- Through this, a ‘community of interest'— comes of their interactions are also like- a coalition of groups with vested psy- ly to impinge unevenly on different The criminal system chological, moral and material inter- societies and groups within them. The ue ests—develops between drug entrepre- criminal system permeates the political permeates the political and neurs and coercive state agencies or the and economic system, undermining the economic system, Power elites that control them. This unctioning of legal industries and the mutual support takes many shapes and role and functioning of the state. The undermining the functioning has many levels, changing over time and tensi f states! c' ci S te H H location. Hi , the cons ce of oxen of tar cece omer® | of legal industries and the | ‘tm. Hew me oman heavily on the distribution of power, role and functioning of groups are advanced to the detriment of wealth and security within and between the state third parties and areas of the societies in societies, often through practices that escape democratic control. The destructive force of the inter- which they flourish. The drug industry and drug law enforcement, in this approach, are not necessarily opposite to twined dynamics of the drug industry and state repression is there- each other but develop a more or less intertwined and interdepen- by likely to demolish the existing relations between states, mar- lent dynamic—a sort of countervailing but also mutually rein- kets and societies. Therewith, the underlying dynamics and out- forcing ‘coalition’ that serves the interests of both, independent of comes of the drug war are not only shaped by but are also reshap- democratic control by citizens and sometimes even governments. ing the fundamental structures of the world's political economy. Globalisation, neoliberal reforms and the end of the Cold War have strongly affected the regulation of relations among states and THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG COMPLEX the relation between states and societies. The Cold War system In this section I argue that interests in the drug industry and in imposed relative stability in the international state system, as well drug law enforcement collide in both domestic and international as order and discipline within both camps and a more general domains to form the International Drug Complex. foundation for stability in the world economy. The Cold War did In analogy with the theory of the Military Industrial Complex— not lead to a major conflict between the superpowers, and it developed since the 1960s to explain the longevity of the Cold iminished the possibilities for war between states; but it also War, the arms race, the persistence of anti-communist ideology charged a heavy toll on peoples squeezed between the antagonis- and political interventions in people's lives and societies—I have tic claims to maintain political and ideological unity within the tried in this paper to assemble and understand the mechanisms superpowers' self-proclaimed spheres of influence. The criminal system permeates the political and economic system, undermining the functioning of legal industries and the role and functioning of abe -2-2- the state. THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG COMPLEX In this section I argue that interests in the drug industry and in drug law enforcement collide in both domestic and international domains to form the International Drug Complex. In analogy with the theory of the Military Industrial Complex— developed since the 1960s to explain the longevity of the Cold War, the arms race, the persistence of anti-communist ideology and political interventions in people's lives and societies—I have tried in this paper to assemble and understand the mechanisms Bibliography in Peter H. Smith (ed.), Drug Policy in the 1995. Akida, Okon, "International Trade in Americas, 1992, pp. 129-50. = Chatterjee, S.K., Legal Aspects of Narcotic Drugs: Implications for Global = Belenko, Steven, Behind Bars: Substance International Drug Control, 1981. Security", Futures 29(7):605-16, 1995. 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