Research Project

The common understanding of the relationship between state actors and black markets is that state actors will curb black markets whenever possible to reduce their adverse effects on states’ societies and economies. Leading to interstate agreements and international norms that aim to combat black market trades for mutual benefit between states. While non-state actors will utilize the black market to subvert their state competitors. Upon closer examination of state behavior, it becomes evident that states will engage with and exploit black markets when it serves their political, economic, or strategic interests. This paper investigates how state and non-state actors use the black market to advance their own interests. It will use 5 case studies, including both contemporary and historical cases, to examine actor behaviors. These case studies are the Golden Triangle, the Opium Wars, North and South Korea, the narco states of Latin America, and Chinese fentanyl. Using these cases, this paper analyzes actor behaviors through a realist foreign policy framework to explore the dynamics of power shifts facilitated by the strategic manipulation of black market activities.