RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kevin Casas-Zamora, February 03, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Kevin Casas-Zamora writes on the January 30 kidnapping of Carlos Pujalte, Mexico's ambassador to Venezuela. Casas-Zamora argues that the kidnapping of diplomats in Venezuela highlights the complicated reality of trying to lower crime rates in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, February 02, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses key challenges in reducing crime in slums in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. Felbab-Brown argues that successful policies must go beyond infrastructure projects and address a wide variety of economic deficiencies. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mwangi S. Kimenyi and Anne W. Kamau, January 20, 2012, The Brookings Institution
On January 23, the International Criminal Court will rule on the charges brought against the suspects accused of being behind Kenya's post-election violence in 2007-2008. Mwangi Kimenyi and Anne Kamau examine the possible outcomes of the court's ruling and what impact it could have on the country's politics and prospects for peace. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, January 03, 2012, PBS Frontline
In 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Philip J. Cook and Jens Ludwig, December 2011, The Brookings Institution
The unprecedented surge in incarceration has stimulated a national debate between those who believe imprisonment preserves public safety and those who claim the human and financial burden of imprisoning over two million citizens is intolerable. Philip J. Cook and Jens Ludwig examine the most recent research on the causal affect of various crime-related policies—and highlight proven alternatives to prison for controlling crime. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, December 05, 2011, The Brookings Institution
Vanda 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon and Paul Wolfowitz, October 28, 2011, Foreign Policy
Michael 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 12, 2011, U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade
In 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 03, 2011, The Brookings Institution
At 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, September 2011, The Brookings Institution
Vanda 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
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Nelson Yiu-mo Cheng, August 31, 2011, The Brookings Institution
Mass-marketing fraud, a prime example of how transnational organized crime has adapted and grown with globalization, has proliferated in recent years. Using the Hong Kong case as an example, Nelson Cheng, a 23-year veteran of the Hong Kong Police Force, examines how a swift response by law enforcement along with domestic and international collaboration may effectively combat global mass-marketing fraud. Read More