Transnational Organized Crime (TOC)

Question 1

What is the definition of transnational organized crime?

Answer 1

Competing definitions:

1. international official definitions
   - any criminal activity…conducted in more than 1 state or conduced in 1 state + spillover effect
2. typological definition
   - continuation of business by other means (best definition)
3. definition in terms of practices
   - money laundering, narcotics…

Question 2

What have been factors to the rise of transnational organized crime?

Answer 2

• West: economic and political liberalization since 1960s (e.g. free trade agreements)
• East and South: democratization since the 1980s, 1990s -> less policing (e.g. end of cold war - Balkans)
• technological development of communication and transportation

Question 3

What are the typologies (categories) of transnational organized crime?

Answer 3

1. centralised structure (like army structure: hierarchy)
2. networked structures (decentralized: smaller organizations specialise)
3. ad-hoc structures (getting together for 1 time)

Question 4

What are the big 3 activities of TOC and their patterns

Answer 4

1. drugs (began in America South->North)
2. people (global south -> global north)
3. small arms (began in America North -> South)

Question 5

What are some examples of other activities of TOCs

Answer 5

1. alcohol and cigarettes
2. blood diamonds
3. antiques
4. money laundering
   (diverse)

Question 6

What effect does TOCs have on domestic sovereignty?

Answer 6

• weakening domestic sovereignty
• criminal justice
• social welfare (exploiting people, addictions)
• business regulation (accessing legal markets)
• border control
• electoral politics

Question 7

What relation does TOCs have with international sovereignty?

Answer 7

• international sovereignty is taken advantage of:
• own country sovereignty not to be extradited to host state
• transshipment status (agreements for free trade)
• service states (states with little finance regulation to hide your money)

Question 8

Have TOCs taken over the state?

Answer 8

• sometimes
• captured states (e.g. Italy by mafia)
• what is the difference between state and organized crime? A possible alternative?