Mares (political science, U. of California at San Diego) employs social deviance, social constructivism, and rational choice analytic perspectives to introduce the social scientific methods useful for investigating the political economy of drugs and drug policy. The theories are considered in terms of current empirical research on consumption, production, distribution, and money laundering. Mares then turns to the political economy of international cooperation and conflict over contemporary drug policy. Historical accounts of the national cases of drug policy in the United States, the Netherlands, and Sweden conclude the text. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)