THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND COLOMBIA DYNAMICS RELATION IN SOUTH AMERICA: INTERACTIONS IN RESPONDING TO INCREASED ILLICIT DRUG PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING IN COLOMBIA (1998-2002)

Abstract

Illicit drug production and trafficking are global issues and threat faced by both developed and developing countries. Multiple research and discussion suggests that countries dealing with illicit drug production and trafficking are prone to transnational organized crime such as drug cartels, weaker government, and influenced other country’s stability and security. The United States of America as a powerful country takes the lead in responding to increased illicit drug production and trafficking that happens in Colombia, cooperating in an initiative called Plan Colombia, along with government of Colombia during 2000 until 2001. The initiative is on a basis of cooperative behavior between the two countries as the previous relations between United States of America and Colombia was not friendly. The aim of this research is to understand the relation between United States of America and Colombia in responding to a stimulus; increased illicit drug production and trafficking. This thesis will use Alexander Wendt’s constructivism theory to explain that despite having difficult relations, states actions are defined by their intersubjective knowledge and expectation, a result from years of reciprocal social interactions and activities that defines their identity and interests in facing their common enemy which is illicit drug production and trafficking. In this case, this thesis will examine on how United States of America and Colombia’s maintain cooperative security system in facing and responding to increased illicit drug related activities in Colombia during 1998 until 2002.