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Illegal Drugs in Colombia: From Illegal Economic Boom to Social Crisis

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  • Francisco E. Thoumi

    (Latin American and Caribbean Center, Florida International University)

Abstract

During the past thirty years, the illegal drug industry has marked Colombia's development. In no other country has the illegal drug industry had such dramatic social, political, and economic effects. This short article provides a synthesis of the development of the marijuana, coca-cocaine, and poppy-opium-heroin illegal industries. It studies the development of the drug cartels and marketing networks and the participation of guerrillas and paramilitary forces in the industry. The size of the illegal industry and its economic effects are also surveyed and its effects on the political system analyzed. The article ends with a discussion of the evolution of government policies and social attitudes toward the industry. The article shows that in the early years, the illegal industry was perceived by many as positive, how it evolved so that today it provides substantial funding for the country's ambiguous war, and that it is one of the main obstacles to peace.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco E. Thoumi, 2002. "Illegal Drugs in Colombia: From Illegal Economic Boom to Social Crisis," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 582(1), pages 102-116, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:582:y:2002:i:1:p:102-116
    DOI: 10.1177/000271620258200108
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert MacCoun & Peter Reuter, 2002. "PREFACE The Varieties of Drug Control at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 582(1), pages 7-19, July.
    2. Nicole Stoelinga, 2024. "Cultivation and competition in Colombia: Disentangling the effects of coca price changes on violence," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), pages 1007-1042, March.
    3. Valentina Duque, 2024. "Violence and Children’s Education: Evidence From Administrative Data," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 68(5), pages 903-937, May.

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