In "The Politics of Heroin," Alfred W. McCoy unveils a riveting and meticulously researched narrative that exposes the dark underbelly of global politics. With an unflinching gaze, McCoy reveals how the CIA and U.S. government have not only turned a blind eye to but actively participated in the global drug trade. From the shadowy alleyways of Asia to the political corridors of Washington, D.C., McCoy traces the complex networks of drug trafficking that have woven themselves into the fabric of international relations and economic policies. Through a compelling blend of historical documentation and investigative journalism, this book challenges the reader to reconsider the intersection of politics and morality on the global stage. Expanding beyond the Cold War era, McCoy's narrative stretches into the modern-day implications of these covert operations, shedding light on the U.S. involvement in the narcotics trade in regions such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central America, and Colombia. "The Politics of Heroin" not only chronicles the rise and fall of drug empires and their patrons in the highest echelons of power but also offers a critical analysis of how U.S. drug policies have paradoxically fueled the very problem they sought to combat. This groundbreaking study is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex dynamics that govern the global supply of illicit drugs and the complicit role played by those in power.