Thiago Rodrigues – författare

In this book we propose to tackle militarization trends in Latin America which include the presence of the military organizations in some vital national economic activities, the ethics and aesthetics of the ‘military’ in popular forms of entertainment, the active engagement of military personnel in criminal activities, the Armed Forces intervention in electoral processes, the Armed Forces engagement in the cybersphere and cyberwarfare, their participation in civil defense operations, their emulation by militias, gangs and other armed non-state actors. We shall consider militarization on multiple scales from the individual body and subjectification processes to international politics from the everyday experiences and practices to the development of national strategies in Latin America and we shall avoid the dichotomy between a militarized moment and space and a demilitarized moment and space.

This book is a collection of studies of drug policies in several Latin American countries. The chapters analyze the specific histories of drug policies in each country, as well as related phenomena and case studies throughout the region. It presents conceptual reflections on the origins of prohibition and the “War on Drugs,” including the topic of human rights and cognitive freedom. Further, the collection reflects on the pioneering role of some Latin American countries in changing paradigms of international drug policy. Each case study provides an analysis of where each state is now in terms of policy reform within the context of its history and current socio-political circumstances. Concurrently, local movements, initiatives, and backlash against the reformist debate within the hemisphere are examined. The recent changes regarding the regulation of marijuana in the United States and their possible impact on Latin America are also addressed. This work is an important, up-to-date and well-researched reference for all who are interested in drug policy from a Latin American perspective.