Drug syndicates and or trafficking cartels, try to move and sell drugs illegally across borders. The war on drugs, is enforcement of laws and fighting drug traffickers using agencies, security forces, and the military to suppress drug trafficking thereby curtailing the power of drug syndicates (Lynch, 176). The extent of the War on Drugs is broad, as there are several nations like America participating in this war. Nevertheless, this war has been successful only by a whisker as drug cartels continue to manufacture, distribute, and sell illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin. Mercille points out that the War on Drugs is a term used to mean the initiative led by the government which focuses on illegal drug distribution, use, and trade by enforcing and increasing penalties for drug cartels and offenders (1637). The War on Drugs has large impact to the UN and other the participating nations. Federal governments use military intervention or military aid to prohibit illegal use, and trade of drugs while enforcing policies that discourage consumption, distribution, and production of drugs classified illegal by the UN, and other participating governments. There are two articles analyzed on this assignment, and these discuss the war on drugs.
Introduction and Summary
Markedly, the first article is entitled "Theorizing the role of the ‘war on drugs’ in US punishment, "Authored by Mona Lynch on May 2012. This article was published online at the University of California, USA. Noticeably, the audience for this article is mostly criminology scholars and mostly University students undertaking a course in criminology. The purpose of this article is to inform the criminology students how the War on Drugs has led to several penal changes in the US, and the effects of this War more so the racialized impact. Lynch (175) says that “there are several aspects of this War that remains under-explored in society scholarship and punishment”. Towards that end, this article creates five different modes through which regulations of drugs in USA impact on the penal change that prevails the relationship between punishment and drug war.
The second article is entitled "Violent narco-cartels or US hegemony? The political economy of the ‘war on drugs’ in Mexico," authored by Julien Mercille on 31st October 2011. This article was published online and focuses on drug trafficking in Mexico. The audience of this article is criminology scholars and also members of the general public with interest of studying the War on Drugs. The purpose of this article is to analyze and make comments on drug-related violence, and drug trafficking in Mexico while focusing on why the narco-cartels are the leading causes of drug-related problems. Moreover, this article show causes how the US is well placed and a well-intentioned player of conducting War on drug trafficking and production with an objective to lower crime, addiction, and drug-related violence.
Analytical Section
America has been engaged in the War on Drugs for almost 25 years. Mercille says that the US is in a state of confusion as to whether it is in this war for the right reason, and why it is engaged in this war (1643). To this end, the resolve to take part in this war is subject to subjective statistical proof and varying opinions. Arguably, American needs to ask itself if this is a battle that they can win, as this has been a continuing struggle. This issue poses this fundamental question. Drugs have severe therapeutic effects, and prolonged use causes addiction and ultimately harms humans' body. For this reason, countries like America fight costly battles to overcome drugs menace, and to eradicate drugs use. Most of the times are when the battle on drugs is ineffective. America spends billions of money to fight and eliminate the production, distribution, sale, and use of illicit drugs. Mercille argues that the War on Drugs is grounded in a tight political economy, and Mexico the consumption of drugs is enormous while there are loose firearms regulations (1645). For these reasons, America has a great responsibility of fighting and suppressing the narcotics industry.
Lynch, says that there are several Acts, or Policies meant to curtail the production, distribution, sale, and use of illicit drugs in America (181). Notably, the support from the American public on the War on Drugs has waned in the recent past. Towards that end, some American policymakers and citizens feel that this War on Drugs has been ineffective, and in most situations, it has led to the racial divide. Nonetheless, others still believe that this War will bear fruits. An example of drug policy in the US is the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA) enacted by the US Congress in 2010. This policy aimed to reduce the penalties or punishment for drug-related cases. Notably, marijuana has been legalized in several States, while in other areas this legalization has led to increasing political views on the use of drugs for recreational purposes (Lynch 183). Nonetheless, the War on Drugs continues but with less publicity and intensity than in its years of inception. These two articles are similar as they discuss the role of the War on Drugs. However, these articles tend to be different in that Mona Lynch article discusses the War on Drugs from an American perspective and the real punishment for trading and using illegal drugs in the US, while Julien Mercille article examines the political economy of the War on Drugs in Mexico.
Synthesis Section
It is not known whether the War on Drugs will ever be effective and efficient concerning its Impacts (positive outcomes) and costs of fighting this war. According to Mercille, the costs of fighting the War on drugs will still be high but it is anticipated that the participating nations and the UN will win the War and curtail or rather minimize the illegal use, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs (1651). The political economy of the participating nations has impacted on this War on Drugs?. Besides, the War on Drugs impacted on integration or cooperation of the affected nations and States. Lynch, says that the political environment of the participating nations has aided drug cartels to continue selling the illicit drugs. This issue has affected economic integration and cooperation of nations like America and Mexico by far (183). Nonetheless, as the War on Drugs continues, countries need to focus on it with intensity and publicity that was there in recent times when this war started and try to protect this War from being influenced by the prevailing political economy. The participating nations also need to increase their spending on the War on Drugs as this war is a must win. The analysis of the two texts has revealed that as the War on Drugs continues; participating nations will continue to spend more money on the same, while the desired resolutions may never be resolved due to the collusion of State officials and drug cartels and lack of goodwill.
In conclusion, federal governments use military intervention or military aid to prohibit illegal use and trade of drugs while enforcing policies that discourage consumption, distribution, and production of drugs classified illegal by the UN, and other participating governments. Arguably, the two analyzed texts are limited in the sense that they focus more on the problems related to drugs such as crime and violence, more than the solutions to these problems. Some answers would be the enactment and enforcement of strict policies to curtail illicit drugs use and increased facilitation of the drug enforcement agencies. The War on Drugs has led to several penal changes in the US and the effects of this War more so the racialized impact. The narco-cartels are the leading causes of drug-related problems. Moreover, the US is well placed and a well-intentioned player of conducting War on drug trafficking and production, with an objective to lower crime, addiction, and drug-related violence. The question is whether the War on Drugs will achieve its goals of restraining the production, distribution, sale, and use of illicit drugs, the political environment in participating governments and goodwill notwithstanding.
Works Cited
Lynch, Mona. "Theorizing the role of the ‘war on drugs’ in US punishment." Theoretical Criminology 16.2 (2012): 175-199. Print.
Mercille, Julien. "Violent narco-cartels or US hegemony? The political economy of the ‘war on drugs’ in Mexico." Third World Quarterly 32.9 (2011): 1637-1653. Print.
