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Michael Kenney Professor, University of Pittsburg conducts research into the adaptive strategies and learning processes of illicit organizations, particularly focusing on Colombian drug trafficking networks and terrorist groups. He examines how these entities modify their behaviors in response to experiences and new information, embedding this knowledge into their routines and procedures. This adaptability enables them to persist despite aggressive law enforcement efforts.

Michael’s research explores the dynamic interplay between drug traffickers and law enforcement agencies, revealing a complex, interdependent learning environment. Contrary to conventional perceptions, these adversaries engage in a continuous cycle of adaptation, each influencing the other’s strategies and operations.

In his analysis of Colombian drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), Kenney highlights their capacity for flexible adaptation. By analyzing past experiences and circumventing governmental anti-drug policies, these organizations adjust their operations to maintain resilience. This involves altering behaviors based on new information and storing this knowledge within organizational practices, which helps explain the persistence of the illicit drug industry in Colombia despite the dismantling of major cartels like Medellín and Cali.

This dynamic underscore the complexity of the drug enforcement landscape, highlighting the necessity for both traffickers and law enforcers to remain agile and responsive to each other’s actions. Understanding this interdependence is essential for developing more effective strategies in combating illicit drug activities.

Kenney also explores the paradox illicit organizations face between operational efficiency and the need for secrecy. Effective communication is essential for coordination, yet it increases the risk of detection. Balancing these conflicting demands is crucial for the survival and success of such covert networks.

Both drug traffickers and terrorists “learn” by developing skills and improving practices, which makes them increasingly difficult for state authorities to eliminate.  Kenney’s work underscores the importance of understanding the dynamic learning capacities of illicit organizations. Recognizing how these groups adapt and evolve is essential for developing effective strategies to counteract their activities.

To delve deeper on these ideas, read the summary of Kenney’s book “From Pablo to Osama” Click HERE.