Small Wars Journal

El Centro

From Insurgency to Illicit Trade: Analyzing FARC Dissidents in the Cocaine Market ZFTWARNING Mon, 10/14/2024 - 10:06pm
Colombia holds a crucial role in the global drug trade, serving as a major source of cocaine linked to its historical conflicts and ongoing violence. The nation has been marred by some of history's most notorious drug trafficking organizations, including the Medellín and Cali cartels, which have significantly affected Colombia's stability and safety. Additionally, Colombia has been home to several violent revolutionary groups. For decades, organizations like FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional – National Liberation Army) engaged in armed conflict, exacerbating the country’s violence.
SWJ El Centro Book Review – Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crises ZFTWARNING Mon, 10/07/2024 - 2:57pm
SWJ−El Centro Associate Daniel Weisz Argomedo Reviews of "Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crises" by Jonathan S. Blake and Nils Gilman.
Twin Insurgency, Irregular War, and Oil Theft in Nigeria and Brazil: An Overview ZFTWARNING Mon, 09/23/2024 - 12:11am
This article by SWJ−El Centro Intern Zachary Horsington reviews the concept of twin insurgency and its constituent components of criminal insurgency and plutocratic insurgency in order to illuminate case studies of oil theft in Nigeria and Brazil.
Perspective: Beyond Narcos − Mexico, the United States, Nearshoring and Organized Crime ZFTWARNING Wed, 08/28/2024 - 3:06pm
This essay by two SWJ−El Centro scholars looks at the complexities of US-Mexico relations and the need for cooperation based upon mutual respect to address transnational organized crime.
Perspective: Unmasking the Turf Wars − The Complex Rivalries of Turkish Mafia Groups in Europe and Links to Latin America ZFTWARNING Tue, 08/27/2024 - 1:39pm
This article provides perspective on Turkish organized crime and its links throughout Europe and Latin America.
Perspective: Irregular Warfare in Strategic Competition and Gray Zones, Prosecuting Authoritarian Subversion and Exploitative Use of Corruption and Criminality to Weaken Democracy ZFTWARNING Sat, 08/24/2024 - 11:41pm
This commentary summarizes the author’s presentation to the United States Department of Defense (DoD) Strategic Multi-Layer Assessment (SMA) Speaker Series at the Pentagon, Washington, DC on 22 August 2024.The author is Executive Director of the International Coalition Against Illicit Economies (ICAIE)
Perspective: Colombia's Security Crisis – An Emerging Dilemma for US Foreign Policy ZFTWARNING Tue, 08/20/2024 - 6:01pm
This essay by Colombian scholar provides insight into the bilateral US-Colombia policy challenges as transnational gangs and criminal armed groups threaten Colombian and regional security
Underworld Crossroads: Dark Networks and Global Illicit Trade in the Tri-border Area Between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay ZFTWARNING Mon, 08/05/2024 - 9:17pm
This article provides an overview of research on the Tri-border area (TBA) between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay conducted by the authors as part of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) at George Mason University project ‘Hubs of Illicit Trade.’
Perspective: El Mayo, Los Chapitos and the Kingpin Strategy ZFTWARNING Mon, 07/29/2024 - 8:31pm
This essay by SWJ-El Centro Fellow Dr. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera provides perspective on the recent arrests of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López
Perspectiva: El Mayo, Los Chapitos y la Estrategia Kingpin ZFTWARNING Mon, 07/29/2024 - 8:24pm
Este ensayo de la Dra. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, compañera de SWJ-El Centro, ofrece una perspectiva sobre las recientes detenciones de Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada y Joaquín Guzmán López.