The European Union’s Fight Against Illegal Drugs in Latin America

Alexander McCrady

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

The fight against illegal drugs trafficking has been an issue throughout the late 20th century up until modern times. Affected most by this problem is the region of Latin America. Traditionally, this issue has been combatted with the War on Drugs; however, as time has progressed, the EU’s European model has begun to take over. This thesis’ purpose is to understand how the EU has been using declaratory and operational policies to fight against illegal drug trafficking in Latin America since the early 1990s. The EU’s use of interregionalism to foster a new era of drug policies in Latin America will be explored through a single quantitative case study. This exploration will help uncover the exact means of the EU’s fight against illegal drug trafficking in Latin America and how it influenced this fight overall. The thesis ultimately discovered the EU’s European model has influenced the fight against illegal drug trafficking not only in Latin America, but in world hegemons such as the U.S. and that it is through this exact European model that the EU fights illegal drug trafficking: however, the EU’s true motives in the region are often shrouded in mystery.

Abstract:

The fight against illegal drugs trafficking has been an issue throughout the late 20th century up until modern times. Affected most by this problem is the region of Latin America. Traditionally, this issue has been combatted with the War on Drugs; however, as time has progressed, the EU’s European model has begun to take over. This thesis’ purpose is to understand how the EU has been using declaratory and operational policies to fight against illegal drug trafficking in Latin America since the early 1990s. The EU’s use of interregionalism to foster ae new era of drug policies in Latin America will be explored through a single quantitative case study. This exploration will help uncover the exact means of the EU’s fight against illegal drug trafficking in Latin America and how it influenced this fight overall. The thesis ultimately discovered the EU’s European model has influenced the fight against illegal drug trafficking not only in Latin America, but in world hegemons such as the U.S. and that it is through this exact European model that the EU fights illegal drug trafficking: however, the EU’s true motives in the region are often shrouded in mystery.

Keywords

Interregionalism, EU, European model, COPOLAD, Latin America

Keywords

COPOLAD, EU, European Model, Latin America, Interregionalism

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 28. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 25. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: Jan Martin Rolenc
• Reader: Zuzana Trávníčková

Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze

Bachelor programme:
International and Diplomatic Studies