Analysis & Commentary

UN International Guiding Principles on Alternative Development

An Opportunity Lost?
9 Nov 2012
Despite growing acknowledgment of the failures of the drug war, some intransigence remains in adopting best practices for alternative development on the international stage. In this commentary, WOLA drug policy expert Coletta Youngers offers readers the inside story on the dynamics of international drug policy reform.

The Writing is on the Wall: The Cuban-American Vote and the Future of U.S. Policy toward Cuba

8 Nov 2012
The changing opinions and changing demographics of the Cuban-American community made themselves heard at the polls.

Taking the Initiative on Legal Marijuana

Voters in Washington State Appear Poised to Approve Legal, Regulated Marijuana
2 Nov 2012
This year's ballot initiatives to legalize marijuana in Washington, Colorado, and Oregon are evidence of a growing rejection of drug war policies. If the initiatives pass, what would legalization mean for drug policy regionally?

Recent Corruption and Human Rights Trials in Brazil Could Signal Shift toward Justice

26 Oct 2012
There have recently been a number of high-profile criminal cases in Brazil that have caused some to proclaim that a culture of impunity is finally giving way to a culture of accountability where criminals face justice.

Ineffective U.S. Fumigation Policy Adversely Affects Afro-Colombians

24 Oct 2012
Aerial fumigation of coca crops is an ineffective and harmful response to coca cultivation, disproportionately hurting Afro-Colombian communities and destroying Colombia's fragile ecosystem.

Cuba in the Presidential Debate

The Dog that Didn't Bark
23 Oct 2012
The decline in Cuba’s salience as a domestic political issue is an encouraging sign. It suggests that, over time, we might be able to have a more rational discussion.

Is Firing Bullets at Rock Throwers a Justified Use of Force by the Border Patrol?

23 Oct 2012
Since 2010, at least 15 civilians, the majority Mexican, have been killed in confrontations with Border Patrol agents on the U.S.-Mexico border. In this post to WOLA's Border Fact Check blog, Maureen Meyer looks at the Border Patrol's guidelines on the use of force.

Cubans Allowed to Travel Abroad Without Exit Visas

Greater Freedom for Cubans, Uncomfortable Implications for U.S. Policy
16 Oct 2012
The new law responds to the desires of Cubans on the island and Cubans living abroad, and it takes one more step in reducing the interference of the state in the lives of ordinary Cuban citizens.

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See Also

WOLA Border Fact Check

See Also

Read the Venezuelan Politics and Human Rights Blog

The Human Cost

The Human Cost of the Drug War