Globalisation and Crime

Question 1

Held - definition of globalisation

Answer 1

David Held et al. (1999) defines globalisation as: The widening, deepening and speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness in all aspects of life, from the cultural to the criminal, the financial to the spiritual.

Question 2

Castells - 1$ trillion criminal economy

Answer 2

Manual Castells argues that there is now a global criminal economy worth over 1 trillion per annum and this takes a number of forms.

> Arms trafficking
Drugs trafficking
Sex tourism
Organ trafficking

Question 3

Taylor - globalisation resulting in more crime

Answer 3

Ian Taylor (1997) writing from a socialist perspective, argues that globalisation has led to changes in the patterns and extent of crimes. By giving free reign to market forces globalisation has created greater inequality and rising crime rates. He also states that globalisation has led to the creation of crime at both ends of the spectrum, from the social elite and transnational corporations to the poverty stricken.

Question 4

Beck - risk society

Answer 4

Ulrich Beck - argued that developments in the fields of science and technology have themselves brought about problems such as global warming and increases in terrorism. For example, scientists appear to contradict one another’s findings, which in itself causes the general public to question science itself and he suggested that a loss of respect for experts generally creates this uncertainty. In turn, this has led what Beck has led to the emergence of a ‘risk society’, where we are now faced with issues that would have not faced society before.