For decades, Colombia was the 'narcostate'. Now it's seen as one of the rising stars of the global economy. Where does the truth lie? How did a land likened to paradise by the first conquistadores become a byword for hell on earth? And how is it rebuilding itself after decades of violence?
Cocaine is big business and getting bigger. Governments spend millions on a losing war against it, yet it's still the drug of choice in the West. How did the cocaine economy become so massive? Who keeps it running behind the scenes? In Cocaine Nation , Tom Feiling travels the trade routes from Colombia via Miami, Kingston and Tijuana to London and New york. he meets Medellin hitmen, U.S. kingpins, Brazilian traffickers, and talks to soldiers and narcotics officers who fight the gangs and cartels. He traces cocaine's progress from legal 'pick-me-up' to luxury product to global commodity, looks at legalization programs in countries such as Switzerland, and shows how America's anti-drugs crusade is actually increasing demand. Cutting through the myths about the white trade, this is the story of cocaine as it's never been told before.
How Cocaine Took Over the World
The narrative explores Japan's societal transformation over the past few decades, highlighting the alarming decline in birth rates and population. Through Feiling's journey across the country, he interviews individuals affected by this change, revealing how economic shifts influence sexual behavior and relationships. The book emphasizes the implications of solo living and the cultural phenomena emerging from this crisis, suggesting that Japan's experience may foreshadow similar challenges globally, from Spain to South Korea.