231142 Drug-trafficking and criminalization: rethinking the drug-problem in Latin America (BS) (SoSe 2025)

This course seeks to present an general overview of the drug-trafficking problem in Latin
America. Since the consolidation of the prohibitionist model in the 1970s, Latin America has
predominantly approached the “drug-problem” through a punitive paradigm. Even though
over the last years some countries have started discussing alternative policies, the punitive
response is still hegemonic in the region. Two main visible consequences of this is the
strengthening of drug trafficking networks and an increasing criminalization of individuals
from low social classes. The course introduces students to the main characteristics of the
prohibitionist model to approach the “drug-problem” and the main effects of its
generalization and hegemony in Latin America. Moreover, the course addresses how
different penal systems responded to this problem and the effects on local communities in
terms of human rights violations, deepening of gender and class inequalities and violence
rates. Finally, we present different alternative approaches that are currently under
implementation or discussion in Latin American, the U.S and European countries.
i. The consolidation of the prohibitionist paradigm: the war on drugs and the construction
of drug-trafficking as the main public problem; the role of core countries and international
organizations; the effects on peripheral countries; drugs in hegemonic public and political
discourses.
ii. Drug policies and criminalization of drug-related crimes in Latin America: the punitive
turn; security forces and militarization; the role of criminal justice systems; high
incarceration rates; trends in prosecution and sentencing practices; human rights violations.
Impacts of processes of criminalization in local communities in Latin America:
consolidation of criminal careers and social exclusion; territorial reconfigurations;
criminalization of vulnerable groups; increase in violence rates; transnational drug networks,
organized crime and criminal diversification. The cases of Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.
iv. Alternative approaches to the drug-problem: initiatives to legalize medicinal and
recreational marijuana; public health approaches; the harm reduction paradigm;
alternatives to incarceration; decarceration; justice reforms; social and artistic movements.
Initiatives from Latin America, the U.S, Europe and international organizations.