Illicit Flows and Transnational Threats

Hal Brands, Jonathan Kelman | World Politics Review | 2009-10-21

A byproduct of globalization, the explosion in illicit flows across borders has empowered non-state actors, giving rise to new and daunting transnational threats. But is the state always the victim? WPR examines Illicit Flows and Transnational Threats.

Los Zetas and Mexico's Transnational Drug War
By Hal Brands
Originally composed of 31 army deserters who went to work for a cartel boss, Los Zetas have evolved over the past decade into a sophisticated criminal enterprise with more than 1,000 members. Having begun as hired guns, the Zetas now represent the single greatest threat to the Mexican state. On the heels of their meteoric rise within Mexico, they are now embracing a broader international agenda.

The State as Victim and Beneficiary of Illicit Flows
By Jonathan Kelman
What effect has the increase in illicit flows had on states and their power in the international system? The dominant perspective in answer to this question is that illicit flows empower nonstate actors at the expense of states. This ignores the ways in which some states may, in fact, find substantial benefits to be gained from the presence of or access to illicit flows.

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