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Assessing the Effectiveness of the War on Drugs in California Dissertation Or Thesis Complete

Pages:10 (2900 words)

Subject:Government

Topic:War On Drugs

Document Type:Dissertation Or Thesis Complete

Document:#43644571


progress and status of the drug trade and the War on Drugs and how they have developed into threats to California by creating more economic issues in the state. It also discusses how unstable immigration and border policies and an inappropriate approach strongly contribute to the spread and intensifying of the threats. The paper uses the intelligence liaison process as a methodology. This process consists of juxtaposing strong international relational theories, diverse methods of data collection and analysis, and conclusions as well as a comparison of conclusions with existing theories. Findings reveal that the drug trade and the War on Drugs have produced economic imbalance in resources among decision-makers; laxity and instability of immigration and border policies between Mexico and California; and the need to change the single-front policy on narco-terrorism to several policies in order to address multiple aspects. Recommendations include a general uplifting of values and participation of the citizens of Mexico in government.

Introduction

The history that runs between California and Mexico is one riddled with blood, both then and now, dating back to the 19th century and stretching into today's climate. The border that they share has elicited a certain number of conditions that have created an indelible impact on political and social realities. This paper will focus on the terrorism that has evolved from the drug trade and the War on Drugs. The War on Drugs, as well-meaning yet imperfect as it is, has ironically contributed to the spread of narco-terrorism and gang warfare, and it is important to determine just how exactly it has. The reality is that issues in border security, globalization and simple economics emanate from the prevalence of the drug trade as a whole.

This paper will attempt to deconstruct the total security outlook for California. That outlook will cover all border issues with Mexico. And this will be via a thorough perusal of its relationship with California and the results of their shared border and ethnic makeup.

The central research endeavor of this paper is to discuss ways by which the drug trade and the War on Drugs have posed a terror threat to the state of California. These are by exacerbating its economic problems and failing to stabilize both immigration and border policies, and through a misguided approach to the trafficking of illegal drugs. This paper will draw a clear connection all these areas towards making self-evident and workable recommendations.

Purpose Statement

This research will examine the overlap between intelligence liaison and effective data analysis in better understanding the relationship between them. There must be a strong methodology to identify, apply and evaluate dominant theories in political science. A simpler and clearer understanding of "intelligence liaison" is thus essential. It will establish the level of accountability and project probable complications (Svendson, 2009).

This paper seeks to explore the major pillars of this theory via the relevance of other international relations theories to it. It will also identify the function of "complex co-existence plurality" as applied to "intelligence liaison" theories (Svendson, 2009). A major premise is that any knowledge claims about politics must employ a precise set of criteria for evaluation. If science will be used to evaluate, these criteria must test these claims (Moore, 2001).

Hence, undertaking something as intricate and nebulous as terrorism requires a thorough understanding of the intelligence liaison concept. It is a critical guide to research. Terrorism incites much fear and immobility. The collective material, physical and emotional aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent anthrax mailings demand reflective analysis and that level of understanding of both the theory and the concept.

What is the nature of this kind of terrorism? What conditions created it?" (HM, 2002).. A closer scrutiny must go hand-in-hand with effective data analysis. A more nuanced understanding of the methods used and needed revisions of the work is likewise required (Grosshans, 1992).

This paper, therefore, seeks to employ the most appropriate methodology in tackling this issue. Alongside, it will take note of weakness in the gathered data that may create a negative impact on the conclusion (Grosshans, 1992). Most importantly, a strong commitment to high-quality data in conducting the best analyses and in reaching the most accurate conclusions is assured.

Methods Description and Process

The first step in this process is minimizing the complexities of the intelligence liaison process. This can be achieved if people are better able to think analytically and empirically, particularly when it comes to terrorism. One needs to be more heavily cognizant about how these issues flow counter to each other.

These issues are remarkably distinct and different. They also assert profound impact on the issues at large: "They descend from the more macro 'ideological' and 'theoretical', through 'strategy' and 'policy' to the more micro 'operational' and 'tactical.' Finally, it flows down to the 'individual' (as 'professional') and 'personal' levels" (Svendson, 2009).

Thus, in order to explore intelligence liaison more completely and coherently, there needs to be two dominant international relations theories to this concept. They will explain the inherent duality present within the concept. They will better explain the distinct level of activity at distinct moments in time, allowing intelligence liaison and its underlying dynamics to be better understood.

The paper will examine how two of the most dominant theories in international relations best apply to intelligence liaison and terrorism as a whole. Take realism as an illustration. Realism focuses on survival and self-help will help illuminate parts of the dynamics that underscore this concept. On the other hand, examining something as diametrically opposite as constructivism can also assist in a more nuanced understanding of properly executed and manifested intelligence liaison.

Constructivism, for example, deals with the definition of ideas within the structure. It also includes its impact on the identities of the state. It, therefore, juxtaposes against the realist perspective in that international reality is viewed as socially manifested. It implies that terrorism is socially manifested as well.

Moreover, in this case, the data collection method needs to be focused on interviewing participants who have numerous years of experience in the field of intelligence liaisons. Since the concept of intelligence liaisons is widely distinct, a large sample needs to be gathered and consist of professionals. They are those who feel as though they have a wealth of experience in this arena in some way. This will allow a diversity of data to be collected so that higher levels of illumination will be shed on this concept as a whole.

Such an approach to data collection, however, will mean that data analysis will be more complicated and challenging. Certain intermediate results need to be observed. Common mistakes need to be carefully avoided to preserve the validity of the conclusion (Grosshans, 2011). "This is not just verifying the completeness of the data and the accuracy of the calculations but also maintaining the logic of the analysis. This is more so because the avoidance of pitfalls is both a science and an art.

Balancing the analytic alternatives calls for the exercise of considerable judgment" (Grosshans, 2011). As Grosshans explains, when observations demonstrate a wide range of values, it can be tricky to describe the results or to assuage values to them (Grosshans, 2011). This will no doubt be exacerbated when it comes to analyzing the data gathered from interviewing such professionals. They are all likely to express a full range of perspectives on what intelligence liaison is, how they've used it, how it best functions and what the future is likely to be. This suggests the need for wide categories in place for determining the grounds on which to assess the data according to all these distinctions.

Ideally, once the data is collected and analyzed, conclusions need to be drawn. These conclusions will have to be juxtaposed against some of the most dominant theories in the field. The theories used, such as realism or constructivism, need to be evaluated, based on their ability to develop a hypothesis. That will make it consistent with current evidence (Moore, 2001). Ideally, conclusions, which resonate with theories that have more general themes and tenets, are more likely to be considered a good fit than if they did not (Moore, 2001).

In conclusion, the methods involved in determining how to understand best and research intelligence liaison as they exist within the field of international relations are important. The following steps must be in place: two strong international relations theories to juxtapose, diverse methods of data collection and analysis, along with the ability to draw conclusions and compare those conclusions to currently existing theories. Ideally, this research will attempt to shed light on the truly nuanced arena of intelligence liaison by gathering perspectives from those who have worked in that field for many years.

Literature Review

The goals of this particular research paper have long been the focus of other researchers, experts and academics. For example, the research study, "Narcoterrorism: The Merger of the War on Drugs and the War on Terror" by Emma Bjornehed, attempts to assess the realities of…


Sample Source(s) Used

Usually terrorists are constant seeking ways to finance their illegal plans and expensive attacks through illicit means such as drug trafficking. By these means the society, the health of its citizens and also its serenity is being affected by drug trafficking, and by the chaos that terrorist attacks induce.

It has also been suggested by Ionas & Ionas, (2011) that illicit drug trafficking cannot be eradicated from society if all the focus is placed on system issues, policies, licensing and reporting requirements. This is because all these factors are associated with the systems of the disease. The authorities, however, are required to address the issues that lead towards an increase in the need of drugs within a society. The authorities shall, therefore, indulge in practices that minimize the requirements of drugs within a particular economy or society. The authors, however, reached the conclusion that drug trafficking is not one of the most powerful sources of funding for the terrorists. Instead, both the illicit drug traffickers and terrorists use separate means for funding their activities. (Ionas and Ionas, 2011)

This paper has also examined the research 'The Role of Drugs in Terrorism and Organized Crime', which was

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