Abstract
This paper argues that cartels should not be legalized in the United States due to their monopolistic, unethical and destructive nature of competition.

Tags:cartels

Abstract
The paper discusses the characteristics of monopolies and looks at De Beers as an example of a company that had a monopoly on the diamond market. The paper then looks at oligopolies and how America's beer industry fits the model of an oligopoly, and finally, the paper discusses cartels and one of the most recognizable cartels worldwide that is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

From the Paper
"Although it is no longer the case, in the 1980's, De Beers had a monopoly on the diamond market (McConnell, 2002). At this time the company marketed 80% of the world's diamond supply. In order to maintain a monopoly price the company would change the number of diamonds sold depending on the demand. Any additional diamonds mined would be stockpiled during times of low demand so they could be used when the demand increased. The company was also able to limit entry into the market by other companies. They convinced independent companies that there would be a higher profit if they marketed through De Beers. If a company tried to market diamonds on their own, De Beers was able to use their stockpiles to flood the market with similar diamonds. They would also buy and stockpile the diamonds produced by independent companies. Through their methods, de Beers was able to control the diamond supply until mid 2000 (McConnell, 2002).
"Unlike a monopoly, an oligopoly consists of multiple firms, although the number is limited to a small group (Perloff, 2007). Each firm is able to affect the prices of the market and the actions of each affect the other firms in the market. In order to maximize profits, each company must consider the actions its competitors. Entry into these markets can be limited in a number of ways, including government licenses or patents. These firms can function independently or work together so that all can profit (Perloff, 2007)."

Tags:supply, demand, competition, price, welfare, OPEC

Abstract
This paper explains some of the similarities and differences between the Russian Mafia and the Columbian Cartels. It looks at the way that modern technology has seen organized crime groups entering and operating in the 21st century with vigor. It particularly looks at the similarities and differences between the two mafia groups with regards to structure, business and punishment.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
The Columbian Cartels and the Russian Mafia - An Analysis
Structure
Business
Murder and Punishment

From the Paper
"While some similarities between the Russian Mafia and the Columbian Cartels are evident, the differences between the operations and group ethics are stark. As technology continues to advance, Organized Crime groups such as the Russian Mafia and the Columbian Cartels will continue to prey on the innocent and exploit the vulnerable and weak. Knowing how these groups operate is an obvious advantage to citizens and law enforcement alike. For groups such as the Mafia families, traditional operations with the slow infiltration of technology, law enforcement have a frame of reference for the investigation and apprehension of mafia members. However, for the Columbian Cartels, infiltration and inside knowledge of how these groups operate is proving much more difficult and so to be the apprehension of Cartel members."

Tags:murder, exploitation, technology, members

Abstract
This paper looks at how Colombia has a rich and diverse culture and history, which are a tribute to both the country and its people. It discusses how, nonetheless, Colombia has more recently been plagued by the presence of drug cartels that have been responsible for trafficking drugs into the United States, committing horrible violent atrocities, both in the country and abroad, and wielding an enormous political influencing by bribing high profile officials. It discusses how these drug cartels are operated by powerful, wealthy, murderous criminals who don't answer to any rule or law and how they constitute a significant national security risk to the United States of America.

From the Paper
"The essential problem with the national security threat then posed by Columbia is that it is so well established within the country itself that it appears that it may be intractable unless we are committed to rooting out corruption within the government as well. Indeed, it is impossible to say for certain who, exactly, might be receiving bribes or financial support from the drug cartels and the trail of possible corruption has already been shown to reach right up to the president. Thus, U.S. initiative to get Colombia to deal with drug problem themselves face an enormous obstacle in that many government officials themselves may in fact be indebted to the drug cartels and are therefore likely to undermine U.S. efforts to destroy them."

Tags:guerillas, national, front, corruption, trafficking

Abstract
In the first section, the paper explores the literature on the relationship between the drug war and terrorism and the impact of U.S. policy on their connection. The second section of the paper identifies the primary research problem that is to establish the cause for the link between terrorism and the drug trade. The paper aims to show that the United States has promoted a policy which ties together the economic, ideological and tactical imperatives of both drug cartels and terrorist networks. The paper outlines the proposed research design,
the research questions and the variables/constructs involved.

Outline:
Part I
Part II: Problem
Purpose
Proposed Research Design
Research Questions
Variables/Constructs

From the Paper
"An initial claim derived from the Carpenter (2005) text helps to initiate this correlation, indicating that "terrorist groups around the world have been enriched by prohibitionist drug policies that drive up drug costs, and which deliver enormous profits to the outlaw organizations willing to accept the risks that go with the trade." (Carpenter, 1) This implicates a number of variables which the researcher anticipates will be recurrent throughout the research here proposed. Namely, Carpenter makes reference to the fact that both terrorist groups and drug organizations share the distinction of operating outside of the law, making international law a major effecting variable. But the economic principle is the variable which interests our discussion most prominently as it seems likely the one which bears the greatest determinant effect on the correlation between involvement in drugs and terrorism. It is thus that Carpenter, for one, makes an example of the war in Afghanistan, which actually causes the U.S. conflicting interests. According to the article, "most of the regional warlords who abandoned the Taliban and currently support the U.S. anti-terror campaign (and in many cases politically undergird the Karzai government) are deeply involved in the drug trade," (Carpenter, 1) Therefore, in this instance, the idea of fighting a War on Drugs in Afghanistan would significantly weaken U.S. partnerships crucial to fighting of the Taliban."

Tags:War, on, Drugs, War, on, Terror

Abstract
This ten page undergraduate essay explains what a cartel is and analyses how such an organisation might have prevented the fluctuations in the world price of coffee experienced during the 1990s. The author also explains how the principal buyers of coffee exercise monopoly power, examines the relationship between the wholesale and retail price of coffee, and shows how supernormal profits are generated and sustained.

From the Paper
"OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, was formed in 1960, when a buyer's market existed for oil, and before member governments came to own and control their respective production.1 Indeed, in the 1960s, the price of oil had steadily declined despite the oligopoly of the dominant international companies, called the "seven sisters." A number of factors were behind this drop in price, the first being the beginning of Soviet petroleum exports to the non-Communist world, whose price generally undercut that of the major oil firms. Secondly, the 1960s saw the emergence of state-owned companies in the producing countries, which often entered into joint ventures with the international firms in order to lessen dependence on them."

Abstract
The Cali Cartel is a drug cartel based in the southern part of Colombia, around the city of Santiago de Cali. This paper examines the history, structure and activities of the cartel and how law enforcement agencies are trying to curtail its operations.

Paper Outline:
History of Cali and the Cartel
Participants of the Cartel
Activities of the Cartel
The Structure of the Cartel
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"The Colombian population, due to a weak government, is deprived of its sense of security. The weakness of the Colombian government is a very critical issue and even more alarming is the reason for its weakness. Namely, this weakness originates from the presence of strong drug lords, on the one hand and armed political opposition groups, on the other. Colombia has, thus, become a country in which all these different groups, one of them consisting of criminal drug dealers and the other of violent and terrorist political militias, compete with one another for power."

Tags:traffiking, Orejuela, Santacruz-Lodono, cocaine

Abstract
The paper discusses how the element of national patriotism in a national identity is lost when cartels in the American government create wars that work in their self-interest. The writer proposes that Howard Zinn carefully understands the nature of government, and defies the sense of outward and superficial patriotism that is driving a corporate war in Iraq. The writer argues that the soldiers in the Iraq War are not fighting for their country, but are being lured into a war that serves a select elite few in governmental cartels, especially those relating to oil.

From the Paper
"This political and governmental study will contrast two articles by Howard Zinn and Elie Wiesel. In this manner, Wiesel offers an ethnocentric view of American national identity, which overlooks the atrocities caused by cartelism. In essence, Howard Zinn gives a more empirical historical, economic, and governmental to detail the greater truth of American cartelism over the democratic principles that Wiesel defines through a nationalized idealization of America today. The basis of Zinn's article reflects on the notion of `cartels', which are defined a group of countries or companies that rule a nation by controlling prices on goods that are both imported and exported. The problem in America, Zinn argues, is that dying (in war) for one's country is different that dying for the government: Those who died in this war did not die for their country."

Tags:american, iraq, war

Abstract
The research paper explores the relationship between drug cartels in Latin America and Latin American governments. The main focus is on the Colombian cartels, which are extremely powerful and a major force in the Latin American and global drug trade, and the Colombian government. Contains an annotated bibliography that is not included in the word count.

From the Paper
"A strong government, political stability and security are something that many of us take for granted. In Egypt, we may complain that the government is too strong and does give the population the chance to practice any form of political protest or opposition. However, in comparison to Colombia, which suffers from a weak government, the Egyptians are much more fortunate even if they are denied their political rights. The Colombian population, due to a weak government, is deprived of its sense of security. The weakness of the Colombian government is a very critical issue and even more alarming is the reason for its weakness. Namely, this weakness originates from the presence of strong drug lords, on the one hand and armed political opposition groups, on the other. Colombia has, thus, become a country in which all these different groups, one of them consisting of criminal drug dealers and the other of violent and terrorist political militias, compete with one another for power. The consequence of this struggle for power, according to Michael F. Jimenez, a professor of Latin American history at the University of Pittsburg, is the complete absence of any form of stability or security for the Colombian people. In this country, "street children, vagrants, homosexuals, beggars and prostitutes disappear at the hands of the death squads. Drug traffickers cut down politicians and journalists and terrorize at will." Indeed, people just disappear every single day, including politicians and government officials. By all accounts, the Colombian problem is very difficult to resolve because of the enormous power that the drug lords have. The drug lords and cartels are more powerful than the government itself and, many politicians are even dependant on the political and financial support of the drug lords. At the same time, as Time journalist, Tim McGirk explains in "A Carpet of Cocaine," the drug lords fund the political opposition groups to ensure that Colombia remains a fragmented and weak state, in order to ensure their continued power. Not only that but, the drug lords have a very strong presence in the Colombian economy and invest large amounts of money in it, as Professor Jimenez points out. The situation is almost impossible to resolve. The Colombian drug lords have to be eliminated but, not through the military aid of the United States, which is the present policy, because that only enhances the anger of the population towards their government and creates greater support for both the militias and the drug lords who then considered to be fighting against a foreign military intervention. The power of the Colombian drug lords is exceptional due to the political and economic roles that they play in their country's life and, therefore, the war against them needs to take an international intervention and to be carried out through the United Nations, both because the Columbian government is too weak to confront the cartels and US intervention increases the problem."

Tags:drug, narcotics, security