Rethinking Alternative Development

Given the potent combination of insurgent groups with massive funding from narcotics, governments have attempted to combat the threat through a combined counterinsurgency (COIN) and counternarcotics (CN) strategy. At first glance, this appears to be an extremely logical strategy. This is the case given that the COIN portion of the strategy directly targets the insurgents, while the CN side of this approach aims to cut off guerrillas' main funding sources. In reality, COIN and CN are at odds with each other.