The topic of this seminar paper is the drug war in Mexico. In concrete terms, it is about the parties involved in the country and the population groups that have been particularly affected by the war. The seminar paper follows the question of how important the drug trade is for the Mexican economy and how it should be fought. Therefore, the work is structured as follows:
It begins with the history and the origins of the war on drugs. The involved parties are mentioned as well. Furthermore, I will discuss the aims of the war and whether they can be achieved. Afterwards the causes of the drug war are pointed out.
Furthermore, I come to the parties involved inside and outside Mexico. In addition, I want to show the consequences of the war and which people are particularly affected by it. For this purpose, the official figures of the fatalities will be used.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background of the war on drugs
2.1 Involved Parties
2.1.1 Structure
2.1.2 Objects of the conflict
2.1.3 Goals
3. Causes
4. Economics of the drug trade
5. International involvements
6. Consequences of the war
7. Possible scenarios
7.1 The government wins
7.2 The cartel wins
7.3 The citizen militia wins
8. Conclusion
9. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this seminar paper is to analyze the ongoing war on drugs in Mexico, examining the diverse parties involved—including the government, citizens, and drug cartels—and determining the socio-economic impacts of the conflict while addressing the question of how to effectively combat illicit drug trafficking.
- Historical evolution of the Mexican drug trade and its transition into an internal conflict.
- Economic analysis of how drug cartels maximize profits and impact the Mexican GDP.
- Social consequences, focusing on the lack of education and its role in human recruitment for cartels.
- International dynamics and the role of the United States and Colombia as consumers and producers.
- Evaluation of potential future scenarios regarding the resolution or continuation of the war.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Causes
While ideological or ethnic aspects are less important in the Mexican drug war, the historical aspect is the most decisive cause due to the Condor cooperation project. Small drug dealers did not stand a chance. The other hand, the big ones were able to buy their way out through corrupt police officers. This created an oligopoly on the drug market, which led to violent clashes. The territorial aspect is decisive here. The greater the sphere of influence of a drug cartel, the better it can exploit its power and act.
However, one of the most important aspects remains the social aspect, which is the breeding ground for the success of the drug cartels. Mexico has a deficient education system. As a result, young people do not have the right conditions to take up well-paid jobs later on. Furthermore, this represents a lack of prospects: Many citizens resort to illegal ways, since it is not guaranteed that they can earn money to live through legal ways. For example, drug cartels offer contract killings for lucrative earnings, which is a great incentive for young people. With this money, young people are able to secure their future. However, they only see the quick money. In fact, they do not care about the fact that they could die by doing so. This creates a vicious circle from which only the cartels profit.
The power-political aspect of the war on drugs is also important. While the Mexican police have been trying unsuccessfully for years to curb the violent crimes and offences of the drug cartels, citizen militias have been increasingly joining forces since 2013. This helps to defend against the repression and protection racket of the drug cartels. The reason for this approach is that the cartels already have claims to leadership over certain cities. The problem is that through the civil militias, people who are neither members of a cartel nor of the government are now taking part in the war on drugs.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the drug war in Mexico starting in 2006 and defines the research scope and structure of the paper.
2. Background of the war on drugs: Explores the origins of the illegal drug trade, including the impact of the Condor Cooperation Project and the evolution of conflict parties.
3. Causes: Investigates the historical, social, and power-political triggers, emphasizing the role of the educational system and market structures.
4. Economics of the drug trade: Analyzes the market volume, government spending against cartels, and the profitability of illegal businesses for the cartels.
5. International involvements: Examines the cross-border impact on the United States and Colombia and the internal nature of the conflict.
6. Consequences of the war: Discusses the political, social, and economic damages, highlighting the loss of faith in democracy and tourism.
7. Possible scenarios: Presents theoretical outcomes depending on whether the government, cartels, or citizen militias prevail.
8. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings, reiterating that the lack of prospects and corruption contribute to a conflict with no immediate end.
9. Bibliography: Lists all academic and web-based sources used for the analysis.
Keywords
Mexico, drug war, drug cartels, narcotics smuggling, organized crime, government corruption, citizen militias, education system, economic impact, social crisis, international trade, violence, internal conflict, Sinaloa Cartel, drug trafficking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the war on drugs in Mexico, focusing on the conflict between the government, various drug cartels, and civilian groups.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the history of drug trafficking, the economic influence of cartels, the failure of the education system, and the political implications for Mexico.
What is the main research question of the work?
It investigates why drug trafficking is so deeply anchored in Mexico, to what extent it impacts the economy, and how the conflict can be adequately addressed.
Which research methodology is applied?
The author utilizes a qualitative approach based on a review of various books and internet-based sources to evaluate social, historical, and economic evidence.
What is covered in the main body of the document?
The main body covers the parties involved, the underlying causes, the economic scale of the trade, international connections, and hypothetical conflict-resolution scenarios.
How would you characterize this work using keywords?
The work is defined by terms such as organized crime, drug cartels, economic crisis, institutional failure, and civil unrest in Mexico.
How does the educational system contribute to the power of the cartels?
The paper notes that a deficient education system limits job prospects for young people, making them more susceptible to recruitment by drug cartels as a source of income.
Why did the shift in drug transport routes occur?
The document explains that increased pressure from Operation Condor and the corruption of the police led to significant market shifts for drug smugglers, eventually favoring larger, more dominant cartels.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lukas Müller (Autor:in), 2020, The war of drugs in Mexico, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1367811
