War on Drugs and Anglo-American Relations

Philip A. Berry is Lecturer in War Studies in the Centre for Defence Studies at King’s College London. He gained a PhD in Politics from the University of Dundee, where his research examined Anglo–American counter-narcotics policies in Afghanistan in the post-2001 era. His work on the subject has been published in The International History Review and Diplomacy & Statecraft.

• Acknowledgements List of Acronyms Maps and Chart 1. Introduction Part 12. Anglo-American Relations and 9/11 3. The Legacy of Drugs and a Weak State 2Part 24. Taliban Drugs on British Streets, 2001–2002 5. Lead Nation on Counter-Narcotics, 2002 6. Counter-Narcotics on the Hoof, 2002–2004 Part 37. Plan Afghanistan, 2004–2005 8. Afghanistan’s Poppy Capital, 2005–2006 9. The Lesser of Two Evils, 2006–2007 10. The Showdown over Aerial Eradication, 2007 11. Counter-Narcotics in Transition, 2008 Part 412. Obama and Shifting Anglo-American Relations,13. A Poisoned Chalice, 2009–2011 14. Conclusion Appendix Notes Bibliography Index

A well written and engaging study of the intertwining of alliance politics and counter drug policy. Fractured political processes on both sides of the alliance dominated a process which repeatedly refused to recognize that US and British political demands for speedy results faced realistic limits on the ground. The War on Drugs is a useful study of how Great Britain manages a fluctuating influence on joint policies despite constrained resources and the overwhelming requirement of maintaining the special relationship.