Mexico is winning its death match against the drug cartels and rebuilding once-corrupt institutions in the process. But an election is approaching, and the candidates are calling for a truce. Mexico can take its place in the sun, but only if it wipes out the cartels for good.

Neither intensifying the drug war nor legalizing all drugs offers much hope of reducing drug abuse in the United States or lessening violence in Mexico.

Mexico is currently suffering from the same sort of drug-related violence that plagued Colombia during the 1980s. Mexico and the United States can learn a great deal from Colombia's example, including that they must build law enforcement capacity and not rely solely on military force.

Hysteria over bloodshed in Mexico clouds the real challenge: the rising violence is a product of democratization -- and the only real solution is to continue strengthening Mexican democracy.

Mexico is struggling with a surge in drug-related violence, declining oil revenues, and an economy under strain. Some experts point to a looming security problem for the United States.

New studies show the war on drugs is being lost in Afghanistan, and some policy experts think licensing the country for morphine production would help.

The United States and Mexico are negotiating a significant aid package to help Mexico fight its drug war. But a “Plan Mexico” faces many hurdles.

Weakly governed and close to lucrative European markets, West African states are emerging as illicit transit hubs for drugs and people.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has surprised many with his bold crackdown on drug violence and his ability to push reforms through the legislature.  

With drug-related violence on the rise in Mexico, U.S. and Mexican officials are increasingly clashing over how to wage the country’s intensifying war on drugs.

Afghanistan has long been the world’s chief supplier of opium. Yet poppy cultivation, much of which goes to finance Taliban insurgents, may jeopardize U.S.-led efforts to secure southern parts of the country.

Under President Alvaro Uribe's "democratic security" initiative, data suggests security in Colombia has improved significantly. But the country remains the world's biggest producer of cocaine, the rebel group FARC controls many rural areas, and paramilitaries show signs of regrouping.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, celebrating its five-year anniversary summit, has blossomed into a full-fledged security alliance, as well as a foil to U.S. influence in Central Asia.

Shannon O'Neil discusses how Mexico and the United States are heading toward a new collaboration in tackling drug violence.

Gil Kerlikowske, director of the National Drug Control Policy, discusses global drug policy, including a new emphasis on programs that recognize drug addiction as a disease of the brain instead of a moral failure, domestic and international trends in drug consumption, and the diversification of transnational criminal organizations.

The University of San Diego's David A. Shirk discusses the findings of his recent Council Special Report The Drug War in Mexico: Confronting a Shared Threat.

Experts explore solutions for food and drug safety including stronger sanctions against organized crime, increased surveillance and monitoring of facilities, and better inter-country communication.

This session was part of CFR's Symposium on Food and Drugs: Can Safety Be Ensured in a Time of Increased Globalization? which was sponsored by CFR's International Institutions and Global Governance Program and made possible through generous support from the Robina Foundation.

Experts review case studies that frame the complexities of the food and drug supply chains and the policies which need to be addressed in order to protect consumers from fraud and food outbreaks.

This session was part of CFR's Symposium on Food and Drugs: Can Safety Be Ensured in a Time of Increased Globalization? which was sponsored by CFR's International Institutions and Global Governance Program and made possible through generous support from the Robina Foundation.

Experts discuss the implications of importing and exporting food, drugs, and other consumer products in a globalized economy, as well as  how to manage the quality of these products.

This session was part of CFR's Symposium on Food and Drugs: Can Safety Be Ensured in a Time of Increased Globalization? which was sponsored by CFR's International Institutions and Global Governance Program and made possible through generous support from the Robina Foundation.

Listen to Representative Kay Granger (R-TX) give a congressional perspective on the status of U.S. security assistance to Mexico as it struggles with the effects of illegal activity within and along its border region.