The War on Drugs (PIA 2429)
Dr. Michael Kenney
GSPIA
University of Pittsburgh
Telephone: (412) 624-7921
Email: mkenney@pitt.edu
Class Time: Weds, 3-6PM
Class Location: 3600 Posvar Hall
Office Hours: Tues 11AM-12PM & 3-4PM
Office Location: 3935 Posvar Hall
Before the war on terror was the war on drugs. Many of the more “kinetic” components
of the former, including inter-agency task forces, intelligence-driven network analysis,
and “leadership interdiction” were developed during the latter. But if the decades old
drug war is to serve as a prototype for our evolving war on terror, intelligence analysts,
policy makers and citizens must understand the lessons that can be extrapolated from
the model.
Foremost among such lessons is that the war on drugs, in the United States and
internationally, has produced—at best—mixed results. Today, more than 100 years
after the prohibition regime began, we are no closer to solving the drug dilemma than
we were at the turn of the 20th Century. Eliminating the production and consumption of
illicit drugs remains one of the most formidable, and politicized, challenges facing
policymakers. In recent years, there have been renewed calls within and outside the
United States for a reconsideration of supply-reduction policies and programs and a
greater willingness to consider alternatives, such as harm reduction and depenalization. Even more significantly, this year two American states—Colorado and
Washington State—and one Latin American country—Uruguay—will begin
implementing the legal sale and use of small quantities of marijuana for personal
consumption. Under federal law and international treaties, the sale and possession of
marijuana remain illegal.
Our course treads squarely into this minefield by examining the history of drug control
policy in the United States and the internationalization of drug prohibition. The course is
historical and comparative in orientation: in tracing the roots of the war on drugs and
considering the experience of other countries, we seek to enhance our understanding of
American style drug control and the feasibility of alternative approaches. Course topics
are likely to include the history of drug control policy in the U.S. and internationally, the
nature of drug abuse and addiction and current drug use patterns, the different
components of drug control policy, such as crop eradication, drug interdiction,
leadership decapitation, law enforcement, and drug treatment and prevention, the
structure of the drug trade in the Andes, Mexico, Afghanistan, the Golden Triangle, and
the U.S., the relationship between drug trafficking and terrorism/insurgency, including
the role of the FARC and the Taliban and drug-related violence in Mexico, and
alternatives to drug prohibition, including legalization and harm reduction. The course
highlights similarities and differences between the war on drugs and the war on terror
with an eye towards understanding how our experience with the first can better inform
our response to the second.
The War on Drugs Syllabus 2
Required Course Readings
David Courtwright, Dark Paradise: A History of Opiate Addiction in America, enlarged
edition (Harvard University Press, 2001).
Robert J. MacCoun and Peter Reuter, Drug War Heresies: Learning from Other Vices,
Times, & Places (Cambridge University Press, 2001).
Jonathan P. Caulkins, Angela Hawken, Beau Kilmer, Mark A.R. Kleiman, Marijuana
Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2012).
You may purchase these books from the University of Pittsburgh Book Center, which is
located at 4000 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, and online retailers, such as
Amazon.com.
Throughout the semester, I will assign additional readings from other sources. These
readings will be available electronically through our CourseWeb site.
You are also asked to read the print edition of the New York Times, Monday through
Friday, throughout the semester. You can obtain free copies of the Times at select
locations on campus through the Collegiate Readership Program. Please focus your
attention on Times articles dealing with illicit drugs and drug policy. You are welcome to
read additional news sources as well.
Student Responsibilities
Please complete the assigned reading material before each class, so that we may enjoy
productive discussions. It is difficult to generate a stimulating exchange of ideas when
students have not read the material. Please do so. You are asked to remain openminded, objective, and respectful towards all opinions expressed in class and online.
By demonstrating courteous and professional behavior, we will create a learning
environment that respects diversity while promoting a lively exchange of ideas.
Assignments
Course grades are based on individual performance in five areas. Each component
represents the following percentage in your course grade.
Class participation
In-class presentation
Reaction paper for Dark Paradise
Reaction paper for Marijuana Legalization
Policy issue paper
10%
20%
20%
20%
30%
Graded assignments in this course include class participation, an in-class presentation,
two reaction papers, and a policy paper addressing some aspect of the war on drugs.
The War on Drugs Syllabus 3
Class participation includes attendance, in-class discussion, and online participation.
To help me keep track of student participation I use a simple grading rubric (see the
table below). If you wish to receive a strong grade for this course, you will want to
attend class and participate in class discussions. While our class discussions may get
lively at times, we should always strive to learn from each other and to respect our
differences of opinion.
Participation Grade
0
1
2
3
Explanation
Did not attend class
Attended class but did not participate
Attended class and participated
Attended class and superior participation
Another course assignment is an in-class presentation on some aspect of the war on
drugs or drug control policy. You will choose your topic, in consultation with my research
assistant, Ms. Liliana Devia, and I. See the class discussion topics spreadsheet,
located in the “class discussions” folder on our course web site for a preliminary list of
topics covered throughout the semester. When you present your topic you will not want
to lecture at length, but rather lead the class through a discussion of the main points you
wish to convey. An important part of your grade for this assignment will come from your
ability to lead an interesting and robust discussion on the topic being covered. Your inclass presentation is worth 20% of your course grade. I will provide more details on this
assignment as the semester progresses.
You will write two reaction papers in this course, one for Dark Paradise, due in two
weeks, and one for Marijuana Legalization, due later in the semester. Each reaction
paper will be three to four pages in length. Reaction papers will be graded according to
a number of criteria, including strength of analysis, organization, coherent writing, and
correct grammar. Late papers will be penalized. Each reaction paper is worth 20% of
your course grade. I will provide more details on this assignment soon.
Your final assignment in this course will be to write an 8-10 page policy issue paper
addressing some aspect of the war on drugs and drug control policy. Like the reaction
papers, your policy paper will be graded according to content, analysis, and quality of
writing. Late papers will be penalized. Your policy issue paper is worth 30% of your
course grade. I will provide more details on this assignment as the semester
progresses.
This course is designed to be flexible. The lecture schedule (provided in the “Calendar”
tool in the CourseWeb site) will change depending on our progress in covering the
materials and other factors, such as inclement weather. I encourage you to visit the
calendar at least once a week to see if there are any changes in upcoming classes and
assignments.
The War on Drugs Syllabus 4
Web Site
This class uses CourseWeb, the University of Pittsburgh’s online course management
system, to share information and enhance communication. Our use of CourseWeb will
focus on email, course content, and the calendar, where you will find the weekly class
schedule.
To access our web site, direct your browser to http://courseweb.pitt.edu/ and login using
your PITT username and password. Navigate to the My Courses module and click on
the link for 2144_UPITT_PIA_2429_SEC1100: 2144_PIA_2429_SEC1100_THE WAR
ON DRUGS. Do not use Internet Explorer 9 to access the web site. Most other
browser programs should work fine, but some students report problems when using
CourseWeb with their iPads and other tablet devices.
Course Policies
The University of Pittsburgh holds students and faculty to high standards of honesty and
integrity. Violations of the University’s academic integrity standards will not be
tolerated. These violations include, but are not limited to, cheating, fabricating
information or citations, facilitating academic dishonesty by others, and plagiarism.
Plagiarism is defined as “stealing and using the ideas or writings of another person as
one’s own” (MPIA FAQ sheet). Plagiarism occurs when someone presents words or
ideas from another source without properly acknowledging the source, whether it is a
book, academic journal article, or web page. You are expected to adhere to the
University’s academic integrity policies, which you can find in Appendix A of GSPIA’s
Handbook of Academic Policies and Procedures for Master’s Degree Programs.
When writing your papers cite any information source you are using to make a point,
even if you are not using direct quotes from the source. Keep in mind that copying and
pasting materials from the web is a form of plagiarism. If you have any questions or
concerns about plagiarism or academic integrity, please speak with me. Committing
plagiarism, however unintentionally, could result in a failing grade for this course.
The ability to write clearly and effectively is essential to this course—and your education
as graduate students. If you wish to receive help with your writing consider using the
resources of the Writing Center:http://www.composition.pitt.edu/writingcenter/index.html
The Writing Center is staffed by experienced writers that are available for one-on-one
consultations. These consultants cannot read or proofread your paper for you, but they
will work with you and help you proofread your own paper.
If you have a disability for which you are requesting an accommodation in this course,
please tell me and contact Disability Resources and Services (140 William Pitt Union,
412-648-7890, www.drs.pitt.edu) as early as possible in the term. Disability Resources
and Services reviews documentation related to a student's disability, provides
The War on Drugs Syllabus 5
verification of the disability, and recommends reasonable accommodations for specific
courses.
Due to my own disability—I have a profound bilateral hearing loss—I ask you to look at
me and avoid mumbling and covering your mouth when talking during class
discussions. Thanks for your cooperation.
Come to class prepared. This means completing all of the reading assignments
beforehand and being ready to engage the material by participating in class
discussions. Remember class participation is worth 10% of your course grade; I grade
for quality, not just quantity.
You are allowed to use laptop computers and other electronic devices in class for note
taking purposes only. Please avoid the temptation to surf the web and check your
messages during class. If you abuse this privilege, I will ask you to turn off your device.
Also, please avoid using your cell phones during class. Each class will include a ten
minute break, allowing you to check your messages and make calls as necessary.
In a community of learners, accountability is a two-way street. Throughout the term,
please feel free to voice any concerns or suggestions for improving our course to me. If
you are not clear on my expectations for an assignment, please tell me so that I can
give you the feedback you need to be successful. If you feel that I have been
disrespectful or condescending towards you or any student, please let me know right
away, so I can check my behavior. I want you to have a positive experience in our
class. I will never penalize anyone for providing honest, constructive feedback. I
reserve the right to amend the course schedule and grading assignments throughout
the semester.