Topic: Escalating Violence in the International Drug Trade
Country: Lebanon
Delegate Name: Arric McLauchlan
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Lebanon position papers GLIMUN 2010 committees
The international drug trade has been an ongoing problem in many countries around the world, including Lebanon. Some think the war on drugs and the war on terror have become one single entity. The term “narcoterrorism” was coined which bridges the gap between the two. Violence has escalated as of late in the drug trade making it a greater threat now than ever before. Many sources link this problem back to the frontal assault on the drug cartels. If you look at data collect before, during, and after the alcohol prohibition in the United States, you will notice that a drastic increase of violence occurred during the prohibition but afterwards the violence levels decreased back to levels similar to levels before the prohibition. Prohibition causes violence because it drives the cartels underground. Once there, there is no one to settle disputes in lawsuit form so they take matters into their own hands. That usually ends violently.
These past events could show the world to solution to the problem. Escalation will only make the situation worse. The legalization or reduction of enforcement on drug distribution should decrease the amount of associated violence. If the governments of the world were to loosen up on drug enforcement, then the cartels would not have as high of tensions and therefore would not be as violent. Nations must decide whether it is more important to enforce drug laws or reduce violence.
This proposal is a fairly controversial one, but it is in the opinion of the government of the Republic of Lebanon that it is the right choice to make. Countries that wish to end drug violence should see that this is the best way to do that.
As mentioned earlier, this is a controversial proposal, so Lebanon fully expects more reserved and conservative nations to be opposed to this answer. They will want more enforcement on the drug trade, but that will not bring anything but more violence. Escalation is not the answer.
