Opium in the globalization process: The Golden Triangle
The geography and history of illegal drugs are deeply rooted in the past and present dynamics of the globalization process, as indicated by the geohistory of the opium poppy in Asia, as it provides a good example of how the political economy and the geography of illegal drugs are related to globalization. In the meanwhile, Asia offers a rich example of a geographical space where international trafficking started and where the most important mass drug addiction has developed (Chinese opium addiction). The history and geography of opium in Asia owe much to the process of internationalization of trade and globalization, marked as they were by the triangular intercontinental trade, Chinese economic protectionism, colonial opium monopolies and other regulating bodies, the Sino-British imperial wars, the genesis of the global prohibition of certain drugs, the national and international armed conflicts following the independences and to the Cold War, etc. The geohistory of opium in Asia clearly shows that the development of drug trafficking is largely a result of worldwide state intervention. Ultimately, the geography of illegal drugs should be considered in light of the global and asymmetric distribution of power, wealth and income, and their impact on crises and conflicts.