Patterns of global crime Flashcards
What does globalisation challenge
Our national and cultural definitions of crime
Why is global crime hard to define, investigate and punish
It transcends national borders and police forces
What does global organised crime mean?
It can be used to refer to criminal activities or criminals. One definition is ‘the cross-border activities of organised crime groups, arguably exploiting to their advantage increasing global interconnectedness’ (Franko Aas 2007)
What activities are global criminal organisations involved in
A range of activities including
- Drug trafficking
- Arms trading
- kidnapping
What is the estimated annual value of organised crime
- Migrants: $ 6 billion, 750 million
- Drugs: $105 billion
- Counterfeit goods and medicines: 9 billion, 800 million
Total= 121 billion, 600 million
Why is it difficult to estimate the value of global crime
Only a fraction gets found out every year
What factors have affected the response to transnational crime
- The diversity of the groups and activities involved
- Difficulties relating to international cooperation
- Border issues and lack of common definition
- The increased trend towards state deregulation
- The lack of global attention due to terrorism
What have criminal organisations taken advantage of
New developments in communication and transportation, as well as increasingly open borders
What did Gastrow from the International Peace Institute suggest about organised crime
Stereotypical perceptions of the Mafia Godfather boss are outdated. Today, criminal organisations turn over billions of dollars and prey on every aspect of global society
What does Gastrow suggest is a key problem with tackling global crime
State borders are irrelevant to criminal organisations which makes them hard to track
What is Castells’ theory
He sees organised crime groups as resembling business networks which take advantage of globalisation to set up links across the world
What is Robertson’s concept
Glocalisation - The global and the local are becoming increasingly intertwined and impact each other
