Globalisation And Crime

Question 1

Globalisation and Crime

Answer 1

The Global Economy:
The same process that brought about globalisation of legitimate activities have also brought about the spread of transnational organised crime.
Castells- new global criminal economy worth over 1 trillion per annum.
Arms trafficking, smuggling, cyber crimes, green crimes etc.

+ Globalisation is a useful and up to date approach to examining crime and deviance in contemporary society.

Question 2

Globalisation and Crime

Answer 2

Patterns of criminal organisation:
Hobbs and Dunningham- focus on how criminal organisations have changed in a globalised world, rather than focusing on types of crime committed.
‘Glocal’ organisations- argue that crime works on a ‘Glocal’ system as it involves local connections but is locally based. Such as drug trades, were they need local dealers that work with international dealers to sell the drugs.
Changes associated with globalisation have shifted criminals from gang structures to loose network of entrepreneurial criminals.

+ Provide a useful explanation for the shift in structure of criminal organisations to contemporary society.
X Their view of the changed in the style of criminal networks cannot generalise to other criminal activities elsewhere.

Question 3

Explanations of Green Crime

Answer 3

Global ‘risk society’:
Beck- argues develop in technology bring risks, such as global warming and c,image change. These man made risks harm the environment which is a global risk rather then a local risk.
‘Smog is demographic’ meaning pollution from one country can affect many others and can have knock on effect. Ex. Russia suffered heatwaves due to climate changed which resulted in wildfires, which lead to an increase in prices because they couldn’t grow things, ended up in rioters and looting.

+ Beck argues ‘smog is demographic’ it affects everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender and class, which highlights the importance of studying green crime.
X It is difficult to establish all the events as being manufactured, for example the heatwave in Russia may not have been linked to global warming.

Question 4

Explanations of Green Crime

Answer 4

Marxists view of green crime:
Argues green crime is just further evidence of crime genie nature of capitalism, the ruling class will continue to exploits the environment to pursue a profit. Factories that spew pollutants are often built near districts inhabited by the poor.

+ Plenty of evidence to support the view that wealthy businesses and the government exploited the natural resources of a poorer country or area.
X Some argue that enough is being done to tackle green crime