The political economy of illicit drug crops: forum introduction

Frances Thomson, Patrick Meehan, Jonathan Goodhand

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article and the forum it introduces examine illicit drug crop (IDC) economies from agrarian perspectives. Examining IDCs as a group implies analysing how prohibition distinguishes them from other (licit) crops. We identify seven mechanisms through which prohibition shapes the agrarian political economy of IDCs and explore how these mechanisms and their effects generate distinctive patterns of development and political action amongst ‘illicit peasantries’. We also examine connections between illicit and licit crops, including how licit crop crises and illicit crop booms intertwine. We argue that IDC economies provide a bulwark for smallholders but are by no means peasant idylls.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)763-800
Number of pages38
JournalJournal of Peasant Studies
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Apr 2024

Keywords

  • Illicit economies; drug crops; coca/cocaine; opium; cannabis; counternarcotics

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