Mexicans and Americans Perceptions About Drug War in Mexico: The Question of Morality

It has been decades that drug related stories from Latin America remained in the news. Political significance of this issue got reinforced in the last decade with most of Latin American countries succeeding in stabilizing their economies one after another resulting in the increased trade within the region along with the increasing number of Hispanic immigrants in U.S. It has been long since Mexico initiated its war against the drug cartels but still signs of curtailing these cartels and dealers are out of sight. What are the causes of Mexican failure? This was the subject of a bi-country survey this week. It was conducted in U.S. and Mexico.


The poll shows the environment of distrust and insecurity due to the prevalence of drug cartels. Such feelings are more dominant in Mexico than in U.S. States bordering Mexico. The views on both sides of the fence are almost identical on several aspects. Publics’ in both the countries blame drug cartels to be responsible for this war and on both sides it is perceived that drug cartels are winning the war. So there is a weird disappointment that despite two states fighting the cartels, one being a super power-U.S. are still not able to achieve their goals.

U.S. being a huge market for drugs has been cited as one of the main cause on both sides which stimulates the whole activity for making profits. The second most prominent cause raised by the publics on both sides is the corruption prevalent in authorities dealing with this issue on both sides.

Both of these causes suggest that the root of such issues lie in the declining standards of morality than anything else. Drugs and corruption of course had been there in history but not on such huge scales as in today’s world. Our changing life styles might have something to do with them. People in this consumeristic world are always in search of money and luxuries initially and then peace and serenity.

This suggest that in order to really win war against drug cartels, the states should bring such positive change in the society through legal and material infrastructure that drug market gets eliminated. Before putting further pressure on Mexico, should U.S. not take steps at home to curb the drug market? This should be equally applicable to countries across the globe. Similarly is it possible for Mexico or U.S. or any country to win a war against drug cartels without wining a war against corruption?