This book shows us that law ultimately originates from the most powerful nation on Earth. In the current case, the USA. However, there is no tone of hysteria. The authors simply state the case as it is.
While it casts American legal foreign policy as entirely in the interest of the USA, the authors do remind us that not all government is bad. The British government efforts to abort slavery in the 19th century was a perfect example, when British naval forces would board ships in international water that they suspected of trafficking in human cargo. And, rightly so, most of us will agree.
But while trafficking in human cargo has dire consequences on society as a whole, trafficking in drugs only has consequences on society as far as human will is concerned. We can choose not to consume those drugs, just as many of us choose not to consume cigarettes or excessive amounts of alcohol. Thus, many of us have shown what a farce the War on Drugs really is. Many say that what one person does to his body, as long as it does not hurt others, is strictly his or her business.
Still, the navies of the world, most notably that of the US and those in direct cahoots with Washington, continue to board naval vessels they suspect of "trafficking in illegal substances." Hence the title, Policing the Globe.
When the USA plays the tune, most nations are forced to dance the dance.
Now, it looks like it is only a matter of time before our skies are darkened with drones, armed with high resolution cameras, forever taking pictures of our every move.
Nadelmann, who we all know as the director of the Drug Policy Alliance, or DPA, shows that virtually all anti drug laws throughout the world are because of intense pressure emanating from Washington, D.C. Nadelmann and co-author Peter Andreas go on to show that in this age of superpower politics, no country is really free to do as it chooses.
