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Revista Reflexiones
On-line version ISSN 1659-2859Print version ISSN 1021-1209
Abstract
ROSEN, Jonathan Daniel and ZEPEDA MARTINEZ, Roberto. The War on drugs in Mexico: a Lost War. Reflexiones [online]. 2015, vol.94, n.1, pp.153-168. ISSN 1659-2859.
After the first year of the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018), Mexico continues to encounter problems related to drug trafficking, which are reflected in the high levels of violence and increases in illicit activities such as kidnapping and extortion. A dozen drug cartels fight to control territory and trafficking routes in the country, which has generated more violence. After becoming the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) launched a War on Drugs, and during the six years of his presidency, 70,000 people died as a result of the violence. The number of drug trafficking cartels also increased and drug trafficking continued. This article argues that the War on Drugs during the government of Calderón and during the first year of the sexenio of Peña Nieto has been a failed war when considering the results. In the first part of this article, we briefly analyze the history of the War on Drugs in the United States and Colombia. The second part concentrates on the case of Mexico. This section analyzes the tendencies of narco-violence, crime related to organized crime, and the drug cartels operating in Mexico. This work also examines the causes of the high levels of violence in recent years in order to understand the current situation in the country. Finally, this article critically analyzes the security strategies and counter-narcotics strategies of former President Felipe Calderón and his successor, Enrique Peña Nieto, who has not modified the general security strategies.
Keywords : drug trafficking; Mexico; war on drugs; Calderón; narcoexecutions..