The relationship between corruption and drug trafficking: a general analysis and some references to Colombia

The relationship between corruption and the development of the illegal drug industry and drug trafficking in a country is circular. Corruption is simultaneously cause and effect of this developments. Both corruption and drug trafficking are often the result of delegitimizing processess of the political regime and the deterioration of the social institutions, civil and official, and the lack of social capital and trust within society. I argue that corruption and drug trafficking are often symptoms of deeper social problems.