Graduate Program (& Advanced Certificate) Status
Elective course, Security specialization
The contemporary institutions, norms and approaches of international narcotic drug control are now over a century old. The record of progress toward a ‘drug free world’ is however poor, with 2018 figures for global narcotic drug use, production and drug crop cultivation (coca for cocaine, opium poppy for opiates such as heroin and morphine) at record highs, as are figures for the manufacture and use of synthetic drugs (MDMA, amphetamine, methamphetamine), ‘legal highs’ and misuse of prescription pharmaceuticals.
This course examines the structure, decision making processes and record of international drug control in order to understand why policy approaches persist despite a record of evident failure. It focuses on the treaties, laws, institutions and organizations responsible for decision making on drugs issues, and the stakeholders who are involved in (or excluded from) the design, monitoring and evaluation of drug policies. Particular emphasis is placed on the challenges of researching illicit economies and behaviors for evidenced based policy approaches, how ‘progress’ is evaluated in drug policy and on the impact of enforcement on related policy areas such as security, development and public health.
Course Requirements
Delivery of the course is based on fortnightly double sessions. It will be based on interactive lectures using media resources and outlining key themes, issues, and literatures, followed by class discussion and analysis of concepts, materials and policy debates. Students must prepare for each session and from the beginning of term. Before the first class, students must have read the 1961 Single Convention and Booklets 2 and 3 of the 2018 UNODC World Drug Report
On completion of this course students will be able to demonstrate
- Detailed knowledge of drug control frameworks, drug policy decision making processes, the drug policy ‘cycle’, official metrics for evaluation and prospects for system reform;
- Understanding of the impacts of drug policy enforcement in relation to security, health and development rights and goals;
- Comprehension of illicit market dynamics and the methodological challenges of researching ‘hidden populations’
The course assessment contains formative (ungraded) and summative (graded) elements.
- Submission of a 1,000 word discussion paper on a drug policy related issue of your choice -uploaded to moodle by OCTOBER 21st
- Comments on the discussion papers of a minimum of 2 of your peers by NOVEMBER 2.
- Submission of a 2,500 word fully referenced policy brief based on your discussion paper for deadline of 6pm DECEMBER 20th
Your final policy brief will be marked down a grade unless you have commented on the discussion papers of 2 class peers by the November 11th deadline. Comments should offer advice and suggestions on for example structure and sources of information. A minimum of a paragraph of comments is expected.
N.a.