Drugs as an “Enabling Factor” in Civil War
Once rebel groups have reached a certain size they can provide services to peasants who cultivate drugs and tax them for those services. These services range from protecting the peasants from the governments’ forces to negotiating better prices for the peasants’ crops with the drug traffickers. Performing these services can endear the rebel group to the peasants, garnering a support base of peasants and thereby enhancing the rebels’ ability to sustain their war efforts. This should result in longer war duration and should also enhance the rebel’s bargaining position in talks aimed at a negotiated settlement.