Shaun Matsheza Writer

Prompted by Bolivia and supported by Colombia, the World Health Organization (WHO) will conduct a critical review of the coca leaf over the next year. This review comes decades after the coca leaf was banned under the UN drug treaties. The WHO’s findings may lead to changes in coca’s classification under UN drug treaties, with a vote likely in 2026. The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Transnational Institute (TNI) closely monitor this review and explore key aspects through the “Coca Chronicles” series.

Even a global crisis can provide opportunities for fairer, freer and better ways of organising our world. But too often they can simply become moments to further entrench power, hegemony and undue influence. Unfortunately, as history has demonstrated, global policy making has often shifted in undesirable directions because those in power use crises to push their own interests. 

An influential group of big technology corporations, commonly referred to as Big Tech has concentrated vast economic power with the collusion of states, which has resulted in expanded surveillance,  spiraling disinformation and weakened workers' rights. TNI’s 11th flagship State of Power report exposes the actors, the strategies and the implications of this digital power grab, and shares ideas on how movements might bring technology back under popular control.