Free market reform and drug market prohibition: US policies at cross-purposes in Latin America.

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  • Author(s): Andreas, Peter
  • Source:
    Third World Quarterly. Mar95, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p75-87. 13p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
      ECONOMIC policy; NEOLIBERALISM; DRUG marketing; DRUG laws; TRADE regulation
    • Subject Terms:
      UNITED States; LATIN America
    • Abstract:
      This article examines the agendas of the U.S. policies towards Latin America. Although the first policy objective, which is the promotion of neoliberal market reforms, is viewed as an economic issue and the second policy objective, which is the fight against the illegal drugs trade, is viewed as a law enforcement issue, both involve reshaping the relationship between states and markets. The compatibility of these two very different models of state-market relations is questionable, since legal and illegal markets are often inextricably intertwined. Thus, even as the U.S. seeks to expand the role of market forces and the private sector, the awkward reality in many Latin American countries is that the drug export industry is a leading market force and an integral component of the private sector.