Date: 08 June 2011
Abstract
The author considers Mexico’s “drug war” to determine if the ongoing violence between authorities and drug cartels can be classified as an armed conflict, which would make the situation subject to international humanitarian law. Looking at several influential decisions that determined the existence of an armed conflict as well as a consideration of modern, so-called “anarchic” conflicts, the current crisis seems well suited for such a categorisation. However, classifying Mexico’s situation as an armed conflict would be inappropriate. Though sophisticated in some respects, these groups lack the organisation requirement and the violence unique to this crisis make this “drug war” a rhetorical war rather than a real armed conflict
Citation:
Gallahue, Patrick, 'Mexico's "War on Drugs": Real or Rhetorical Armed Conflict?' (2011) 24 1 Journal of International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, 39.
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