Full metadata
Title
Coordinated like the criminals [electronic resource]: a policy analysis of the current and future U.S. responses to drug cartels
Description
The presence of drug cartels within Mexico impacts U.S. national security, foreign policy, U.S. crime rates, and public health policy. Due to the direct and indirect effects that the cartels have on the United States, this paper examines the Mérida Initiative, the current U.S. anti-cartel policy, and makes several recommendations for future policy directions. Using official documents as well as current academic research, this paper examines the outcomes of past comparable policies that the United States has implemented in Colombia and Afghanistan to address the issue of drug trafficking. The paper then builds on the present successes of the Mérida Initiative by recommending several policies in the areas of international cooperation, agricultural development, Mexican targeting and enforcement, and U.S. law enforcement. This paper recommends that information sharing between countries should be increased to reduce the likelihood that pressure place on cartels will cause displacement; crop eradication cease and alternative crop development be implemented to reduce illicit crop growth; the joint Mexican-U.S. enforcement focus should move from high-value targets to more highly connected members; the United States should increase vetting for gun purchases to help keep guns out of the hands of cartel members; and domestic drug policies should shift toward treatment and demand-focused policies. By implementing the recommended policies, this paper suggests that the influence of cartels within Mexico as well as the United States may be reduced.
Date Created
2014
Contributors
- Mulrooney, Megan (Author)
- Rodriguez, Nancy (Thesis advisor)
- Wang, Xia (Committee member)
- Becerra, David (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
ii, 33 p
Language
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.24800
Statement of Responsibility
by Megan Mulrooney
Description Source
Viewed on May 4, 2015
Level of coding
full
Note
Partial requirement for: M.S., Arizona State University, 2014
Note type
thesis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 29-33)
Note type
bibliography
Field of study: Criminology and criminal justice
System Created
- 2014-06-09 02:06:54
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:36:01
- 2 years 7 months ago
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