The paper argues that if the current agenda to developmentalise drug policy is to make a meaningful contribution to the lives of the rural poor in drug-producing regions in Myanmar and beyond, it must confront the fact that for many households the decision to cultivate opium has been a response to the very processes of market-led rural development that policymakers claim will alleviate poverty.
Drugs and development in Afghanistan: national policy and actor analysis
An overview of counter-narcotic laws, policies and programmes in Afghanistan since 2001 and what it means for policy engagement today.
Voces desde los territorios fronterizos 2020
Los testimonios de este informe aportan ideas valiosas sobre cómo las drogas ilícitas –y las políticas de drogas– afectan las dinámicas de violencia, paz, pobreza, desarrollo, inseguridad y resiliencia.
Data management knowledge exchange
A round-up of data management challenges, solutions and resources shared by 28 multi-partner, multi-country research projects.
The fragmentation and development of global drug control regime complex
This paper seeks to explain the process of fragmentation of the international drug control system and suggests a new analytical framework for discussing trends and outcomes within the drug control system and its interaction with other areas of global governance.
Rethinking trends and stakeholders in international drug policy
This global stakeholder analysis examines the recent changes in international drug policy and the implications of these changes for shifting alignments and coalitions of stakeholders.
Catapults, pickups and tankers
This publication looks at cross-border production and trade in Nimroz, and how it shapes the political economy of this Afghanistan borderland province.
Drugs, development and violence in war-to-peace transitions
This policy brief shares insights from seven conflict- and drug-affected borderlands in Afghanistan, Colombia and Myanmar, and reflects on their implications for those supporting peace processes, poverty alleviation and development in fragile contexts affected by drugs.
Voices from the borderlands 2020
Insights into how illicit drugs – and drug policies – impact the dynamics of violence and peace, poverty and development, and insecurity and resilience.
Rebels-turned-narcos? The FARC-EP’s political involvement in Colombia’s cocaine economy
This paper challenges the ‘rebels-turned-narcos’ premise by showing why involvement in the illicit drug economy, on its own, is insufficient evidence to posit the depoliticisation of an insurgent group.
Forced eradication: a policy that kills
Making visible incidents of violence and confrontation related to Colombia’s forced eradication of illicit crops policy.
Mules, pick-ups and container traffic
This paper looks at the ‘chokepoint’ border crossings in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan – who controls the chokepoints, what commodities are transported through them, and what rules govern the amount of rent extraction.
El PNIS en terreno: Voces del campesinado cocalero
Los principales hallazgos obtenidos de la encuesta aplicada a usuarios del Programa Nacional Integral de Sustitución de cultivos de uso ilícito (PNIS) en los municipios de Tumaco y Puerto Asís. Currently only available in Spanish.
Organising, documenting and managing digital photos for research projects
Guidance on managing digital photos using digiKam software.
Literature review: Drugs and (dis)order in Afghanistan
A summary of key insights and debates from academic literature on the illicit economy in Afghanistan, from it’s origins to present day.
Illicit drugs and tough trade-offs in war-to-peace transitions
A new policy paper makes the case for including illicit drugs in Agenda 2030, particularly Sustainable Development Goal16.
The paradox of illicit economies: survival, resilience, and the limits of development and drug policy orthodoxy
This paper maps out an approach to examine the resilience that has emerged amidst violence and uncertainty in illicit-crop-producing territories.
Literature review on illegal drugs in Latin America
A summary of academic literature on illegal drugs in Latin America published in 2018.
Data management guidance
Guidance on how to handle research data in complex research contexts.
Conflictos cocaleros en Colombia
Cuatro artículos publicados en la revista Análisis Político sobre conflictos cocaleros en Colombia.