Most governments invest alot of time and money in the control and prosecution of transnational crimes. This crimes impact more than one country either through planning or execution. Transnational crimes often involve the manufacture, distribution and provision of illicit goods. Drug trafficking is the most common type of transnational crime. The crime can be classified according to consumer countries and producer countries. This paper seeks to explain the origin and growth of drug trafficking in the context of the strain theory.
Strain theory is a concept of criminology that attributes deviant behaviour to stress or an accumulation of negative emotions. The state of negativity builds up pressure in the individual. This leads to attempts to correct the circumstances through crime. This was the original theory that was proposed by Emile Durkheim. One version of the theory asserts that the possibility of deviant behaviors arise when the individual is under societal or cultural pressure to succeed. This version is popularly known as the classical strain theory. According to the theorist Merton, an individual can respond to stress in three different ways. The first is innovation. An individual may decide to pursue success by coming up with creative ways to generate income. This may include inventing solutions to problems or offering services for payment. This approach is stemmed from the realisation that wealth can be generated through legitimate ways. The second response to pressure is retreatism. The individual who is unable to match the lifestyle of the middle and upper class population may retreat into seclusion. He will cut himself off from people who seem to be of a higher class than himself. His work and social circle will revolve around his class (Peck, 2016).
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The third approach is the one that applies to drug trafficking and other transnational crimes. This individual may have attempted to create wealth from legitimate and illegitimate means. Stress may result from a feeling of failure and/or additional class based stress. The person may come to the realisation that his attempts to attain massive financial success are too slow or they are simply not attainable. This realisation as well as the opportunity to make money quickly will lead to drug trafficking. The general strain theory is currently the theory of crime that is most regarded by sociologists. According to the theorist, individuals who are treated negatively may turn to crime in order to develop both coping mechanisms and a source of quick income. In this case, negative treatment come from society and the family setting. Young men and women may be valued and respected according to their high income bracket and their conventional or traditional family composition. This discrimination leads to negative emotions and a feeling of failure and rejection. The society ostracizes such youth and leaves them to feel like outsiders. The transition to drug trafficking gives such rejected persons an identity and means of livelihood (Wright, 2015).
The years between 1990 and 2010 have been marked by a steady increase in the number of jailed persons in the United States. The majority of those incarcerated were convicted of drug related charges. This aggressive war on drugs had a negative effect on society. The attempted rehabilitation and deterring effect of arrest was simply converted into motivation to do more. A report that focused on the released criminals, showed a worse state of despair than that before incarceration. A majority of those who took part in criminal activity did so to escape the pressure of job hunting, dysfunctional families and limitations of race and class. After they were arrested, most of them served a jail term. When they got out on parole or after the expiry of their term, they were unable to secure gainful employment. Policy also disqualified them from accessing financial aid from bodies such as the Transitional Assistance for Needy Families.(TANF). Such discriminating policies often favor criminals such as murderers and sexual deviants over drug trafficking. Law enforcement agencies do not see the problem caused by this approach because drug trafficking is an emotive and economic crime. Convicted drug felons in such a situation are often forced back into the life of crime. The same rejection and negative emotions they faced before incarceration is now repeated. This fuels the drug trafficking practice because the felon has nowhere else to go. Such a scenario accurately plays out the strain theory (Iratzoqui, 2018).
The general strain theory also applies in the case of those who are left behind. Statistics show that the war on drugs trafficking leaves behind a range of wounded victims. These hurt individuals are the dependents. Family members such as parents, spouses and children are left without their primary bread winner. The financial strain as well as the separation from their loved one leads to feelings of resentment. The social exclusion following the arrests further fuels the feeling of rejection. This group first join drug trafficking through social interactions. The is the only world where they are welcomed and respected. They then decide to regenerate their streams of income through this world. The incarceration approach to drug trafficking creates a vicious cycle that is concurrent with this theory (Leiber & Peck, 2014).
Theories such as the masculinity theory and the social disorganization theory have been used to discount the strain theory. However, the growth and diversification of media, as well as the breakdown of family structure all go to show the relevance of the trait theory. The only limitation it holds is that it does not explain why the top families and financiers of drug trafficking continue with the practice. In conclusion, strain theory explains the foundational cause of drug trafficking.
References
Iratzoqui, A. (2018). Strain and opportunity: A theory of repeat victimization. Journal of interpersonal violence , 33 (8), 1366-1387.
Leiber, M. J., & Peck, J. H. (2014). General Strain Theory. The Encyclopedia of Theoretical Criminology.
Peck, J. H. (2016). Subcultural Theories. The Encyclopedia of Crime and Punishment.
Wright, V. (2015). Pushers: The Effect of Incarceration on Earnings from Drug Trafficking.
