Is an International Treaty Needed to Fight Corruption and the Narco-Insurgency in Mexico?
Abstract
Mexican government corruption prevents effective law enforcement against drug traffickers and the violence associated with drug trafficking. This article reviews the nature and scope of government corruption, including a first-hand account by a Mexican state police commander, then suggests how and why an international treaty establishing UN inspectors who are empowered to investigate corruption at all levels of government could be effective in deterring corruption and restoring the rule of law in the U.S.-Mexico border region. The article argues that the Rome Statute provides a model for establishing this type of treaty and a precedent for all of the powers envisioned for UN inspectors, and argues that countries such as Mexico may be compelled to sign and ratify such a treaty if it is posed as a public litmus test of their willingness to fight corruption.