Democracy News

Drug War in Central America Erodes Democracy
August 5, 2011
By: Carlos Aramayo | Printer Friendly

On July 29, Council of the Americas Vice President, Eric Farnsworth, wrote a response to a Financial Times editorial that dealt with the social and economic repercussions of the drug war in several Central American countries. According to the original editorial, more than 80 percent of the cocaine that reaches the United States is trafficked through Central America. The original editorial also identified the region as “one of the most violent in the world.”

In response, Farnsworth states that drug gangs jeopardize democracy in Central America since they “hollow out” democratic institutions by corroding the local police and intimidated public servants. Farnsworth goes on to declare that this fragile security environment opens the door for political “leaders who promise improved physical security and job creation without the niceties of democracy or a strict adherence to human rights will be elected.” Additionally, Farnsworth identifies that this possibility would be a “tangible setback, even as the hemisphere prepares to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Inter-American Democratic Charter in September.”

In conclusion, Farnsworth suggests possible mechanisms to address the wave of violence in the region. Farnsworth cites Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom’s idea to create a NATO-style security force. In addition, he proposes the “full vetting and retraining of new, professionalized police forces and a regional, apolitical facility to receive and use wisely a temporary increase in taxes to pay for increased regional security costs.” However, Farnsworth notes that Central American governments would need to give up a certain amount of national sovereignty for this initiative to be effective.

Sources:
Financial Times – Central America’s dirty drug wars

Financial Times – Drug gangs imperil democracy in Central America