Sunday February 12, 2012

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Counternarcotics Policy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWhy Eradication Won’t Solve Afghanistan’s Poppy Problem

Vanda Felbab-Brown, January 03, 2012, PBS Frontline

Why Eradication Won’t Solve Afghanistan’s Poppy ProblemIn an interview with PBS Frontline, Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses the widespread effects of opium production in Afghanistan and the outcome of international and domestic efforts to curb it. Read More

Afghanistan, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Corruption, South Asia

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioConfronting Organized Crime and Urban Violence in Latin America

Vanda Felbab-Brown, December 05, 2011, The Brookings Institution

Confronting Organized Crime and Urban Violence in Latin AmericaVanda Felbab-Brown outlines key law enforcement and socioeconomic policy lessons from urban slums controlled by non-state actors in Latin American countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Jamaica. Read More

Latin America, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Crime

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioUsing the Colombia Model in Afghanistan

Michael E. O'Hanlon and Paul Wolfowitz, October 28, 2011, Foreign Policy

Using the Colombia Model in AfghanistanMichael O'Hanlon and Paul Wolfowitz argue that the Colombia model—which included involvement by the Colombian military and U.S. military advisors, U.S. monetary assistance, and strong national leadership—could be applied to successfully combat drug trafficking and terrorism in Afghanistan. Read More

Afghanistan, Colombia, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Corruption

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioWar and Drugs in Afghanistan

Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 25, 2011, World Politics Review

Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses the connection between the narcotics trade in Afghanistan and security, arguing that stability must be increased in order for long-term counternarcotics policies to be a success. Read More

Afghanistan, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Corruption, Middle East

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNarcoterrorism and the Long Reach of U.S. Law Enforcement

Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 12, 2011, U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade

Narcoterrorism and the Long Reach of U.S. Law EnforcementIn testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, Vanda Felbab-Brown speaks on the relationship between drug trade and criminal and belligerent groups in Afghanistan, Mexico, Colombia and West Africa. Felbab-Brown outlines several recommendations for U.S. policy addressing this difficult and complex problem. Read More

Terrorism, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Colombia, Afghanistan

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Impact of Violence on Mexican Communities

Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 03, 2011, The Brookings Institution

The Impact of Violence on Mexican CommunitiesAt a recent event, Vanda Felbab-Brown discussed the impact organized crime is having in Mexico, arguing that the government must change the narrative around violence from the current message that it is just "narcos killing each other," to one that highlights the fact that the violence is destroying communities and must be ended. Read More

Counternarcotics Policy, Mexico, Crime

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHuman Security and Crime in Latin America

Vanda Felbab-Brown, September 2011, Western Hemisphere Security Analysis Center at Florida International University and USSOUTHCOM

Vanda Felbab-Brown provides an overview of the dynamics of the nexus between organized crime and political insecurity, and the impacts on state and human security in Latin America. Felbab-Brown outlines key developments in U.S. policy in Latin America during the Obama administration and implementation challenges. Read More

Latin America, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Foreign Policy, International Relations

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioLaw Enforcement Actions in Urban Spaces: Lessons from Latin America

Vanda Felbab-Brown, September 2011, Western Hemisphere Security Analysis Center at Florida International University and USSOUTHCOM

Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses key law enforcement lessons from Latin American countries' responses to crime, highlighting intelligence gathering, the shift from SWAT-like forces to community police forces, policy prioritization, resource concentration, and methods of tackling new crime that rises in retaken areas. Read More

Latin America, International Relations, Foreign Policy, Corruption, Counternarcotics Policy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioUsing Cost-Benefit Analysis to Develop Counternarcotics Policy

Vanda Felbab-Brown, September 2011, International Journal of Drug Policy

Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses the harm-reduction assessment approach to supply-side counternarcotics policies. Drawing on examples from U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, Felbab-Brown argues that such a careful and comprehensive cost-benefit analysis should be the basis for any public policy. Read More

Afghanistan, Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Latin America

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioTackling Organized Crime in Mexico: Challenges and Opportunities

Thursday, September 22, 2011
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC

Reuters/ejandro BringasOn September 22, the Latin America Initiative at Brookings hostrf a discussion on attempts to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime in Mexico, and released Brookings Fellow Vanda Felbab-Brown’s new report, “Calderón’s Caldron: Lessons from Mexico’s Battle Against Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking in Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and Michoacán.” Read More

Counternarcotics Policy, Mexico, Latin America

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioLessons from Mexico’s Battle Against Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking in Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and Michoacán

Vanda Felbab-Brown, September 2011, The Brookings Institution

Lessons from Mexico’s Battle Against Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking in Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and MichoacánVanda Felbab-Brown analyzes lessons from Mexico’s battle against organized crime and drug trafficking in Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, and Michoacán, examining topics including Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s willingness to work with the United States and his use of the military in fighting criminal groups. Read More

Latin America, Mexico, Counternarcotics Policy, Corruption, Crime

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioIs Drug Trafficking on the Rise in Bolivia's Santa Cruz Region?

Vanda Felbab-Brown, August 11, 2011, Latin America Advisor, Inter-American Dialogue

Authorities in Bolivia are increasingly worried that the Santa Cruz area has become a transit point for the drug trade, and evidence has emerged that cartel members are fleeing from Brazil and Colombia to avoid crackdowns. Vanda Felbab-Brown offers background insight into the current drug trafficking issue in the region. Read More

Counternarcotics Policy, Crime, Latin America

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioThe Security Summit in Central America: On the Modest Meaning of Shared Responsibility

Kevin Casas-Zamora, June 30, 2011, The Brookings Institution

The Security Summit in Central America: On the Modest Meaning of Shared ResponsibilityAlthough there was much talk of drug-consuming countries' co-responsibility at the recent Central American security summit in Guatemala, few concrete steps were taken to address the blight of organized crime in the region. Kevin Casas-Zamora argues that without external assistance, Central America cannot make real progress in overcoming these challenges. Read More

Central America, Counternarcotics Policy, Corruption, Crime, Fiscal Policy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioObama's Plan and the Future of Afghanistan

Vanda Felbab-Brown, June 23, 2011, The Brookings Institution

A U.S. soldier walks as he keeps watch at the site of an explosion in KandaharVanda Felbab-Brown offers analysis on President Obama’s new plan for U.S. military options in Afghanistan, which aims to withdraw 10,000 U.S. troops this year. Felbab-Brown argues that the force reduction could weaken progress that has been achieved in the country, and reflects a broader message about U.S. involvement in the region. Read More

Afghanistan, Defense, Middle East, U.S. Military, U.S. Department of Defense

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioCentral America's Drug Trafficking

Kevin Casas-Zamora, June 22, 2011, LA Times

Organized crime and violence permeates Central American countries. The rampant drug trafficking within the region only exacerbates this problem. Kevin Casas-Zamora suggests methods through which Central American countries can begin amending their societies, emphasizing the importance of profoundly reforming taxation systems in order to gain effective territorial control. Read More

Central America, Latin America, Counternarcotics Policy, Corruption, Crime

In Brief

A part of the illegal drug trade—consumption, transshipment, or production—is present in virtually every country. In places such as Afghanistan and Colombia, the illicit narcotics economy lies at the heart of violent conflict and crucially affects counterterrorism, counterinsurgency and stabilization efforts. Counternarcotics efforts are complex and long-term efforts to mitigate numerous threats to national and international security, political stability and accountability, and economic development posed by illicit economies.

Featured Experts

Vanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown

Fellow, Foreign Policy, 21st Century Defense Initiative

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is the author of Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs (Brookings Institution Press, 2009).
Read More

Kevin Casas-Zamora

Kevin Casas-Zamora

Interim Director, Latin America Initiative

Kevin Casas-Zamora is a senior fellow in Foreign Policy and interim director of the Latin America Initiative at Brookings. Most recently, Casas-Zamora served as Costa Rica’s vice president, as well as minister of national planning and economic policy.
Read More

Diana Villiers Negroponte

Diana Villiers Negroponte

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Latin America Initiative

Formerly a trade lawyer and professor of history, Diana Negroponte focuses on Latin America. She researches and writes about the New Left, populism and the relationship between criminal gangs and state institutions.
Read More

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