Author:
Gordon, Diana R.
Edition Statement:1st ed.
Imprint:New York : W.W. Norton, c1994.
Descriptionxi, 316 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
Bibliography Note:Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-303) and index.
Note:Gordon (political science, City College of New York), author of The Justice Juggernaut (CH, Jul'90), here takes on the "war on drugs" that has been a centerpiece of the recent response to the problem of crime. Her principal objective is to explore an apparent paradox: the persistence of a "prohibitionist" approach to so-called illicit drugs despite the manifest failure of this approach. Gordon first identifies some of the general dimensions of the war on drugs, then reports on some of the specific "battlefields" where tough laws have been adopted. In the second half of the book she examines the "shadow agenda" that she believes underlies this type of response: a "get tough" approach to the drug problem reflects fear and antagonism toward racial minorities and frustration with enduring problems of inner-city poverty. Gordon argues that the contemporary war on drugs deflects attention from more substantial responses to fundamental social problems, and compromises the rights of vulnerable citizens. Without endorsing outright legalization, she concludes that the more balanced and rational approach of some European countries offers a model for policies that de-emphasize the crime-fighting approach and highlight health-related concerns. A useful antidote to much of current inflated rhetoric about the drug problem. -- Choice review
