Publication

This policy brief discusses the link between organized crime and state vulnerability. It argues that the growing power of criminal networks over the international drug economy can potentially lead to the corrosion of vulnerable states in a number of ways. Among these, drug money can be used by criminal gangs to corrupt the state and the lure of drug revenues can prolong internal conflicts in countries such as Burma and Afghanistan. The author argues that a wider policy mix that puts social considerations at the center should be adopted. This would involve new forms of regulation, a focus on peace, sensitivity to local cultures, and the involvement of civil society.