Suppressing Illicit Opium Production: Successful Intervention in Asia and the Middle East - Hardcover

"As the world increasingly explores global drug policy reform, it is more important than ever to understand Asia's experience with drug crops and markets. One of the reasons Asia does not share Latin America's inclination toward reform is its perception of successful management of its drug trade as well as its history of highly problematic drug production. James Windle has written an invaluable book, bridging the historic experience and defining legacies with current issues. His careful analysis of the effectiveness and shortcomings of drug policies in Asia provides many crucial lessons - for Asia, but also for other parts of the world." Vanda Felbab-Brown, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, and author of Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs

Conventional analysis of the illicit opium market suggests that source country interventions have at best achieved minimal results. Yet there are countries that have eliminated, or significantly reduced, the illicit production of opium from their territory. Drawing on a wide range of academic, official and non-governmental sources, including previously unidentified records, James Windle provides detailed narratives of countries that have achieved national success, including China, Iran, Turkey, the People s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam and Laos, and identifies key factors necessary for successful intervention. Suppressing Illicit Opium Production makes a valuable contribution to our scarce knowledge of source country drug policy and draws out important lessons to be learned for improving the effectiveness of future interventions. It will be essential reference for all practitioners, policy makers and academics concerned with a subject of significant contemporary relevance."