Transnational Organised Crime: Perspectives on Global Security (Organizational Crime)

The perceived threat of 'transnational organized crime' to Western societies has been of huge interest to politicians, policy makers and social scientists over the last decade. This book considers the origins of this crime, how it has been defined and measured and the appropriateness of governments' policy responses. The contributors argue that while serious harm is often caused by transnational criminal activity - for example, the trafficking in human beings - the construction of that criminal activity as an external threat obscures the origins of these crimes in the markets for illicit goods and services within the 'threatened' societies. As such, the authors question the extent to which global crime can be controlled through law enforcement initiatives, and alternative policy initiatives are considered. The authors also question whether transnational organised crime will retain its place on the policy agendas of the United Nations and European Union in the wake of the 'War on Terror'. The Origins & Perceptions Of Transnational Organised Crime Are Discussed In This Book. The Authors Contend That The Ways In Which Such Crime Is Constructed As An 'external' Threat Obscures The Reality That Such Crime Is Demand Driven & They Question Whether Law Enforcement Alone Can Contain It. Transnational Organised Crime / Mike Woodiwiss -- Europe's Response To Transnational Organised Crime / Martin Elvins -- Global Law Enforcement As A Protection Racket / James Sheptycki -- Measuring Transnational Organised Crime / R.w. (bill) Burnham -- Classify, Report And Measure / Frank Gregory -- The Network Paradigm Applied To Criminal Organisations / P.p.h.m. (peter) Klerks -- Transnational Organised Crime / Peter Stelfox -- Bad Boys In The Baltics / Patricia Rawlinson -- Controlling Drug Trafficking In Central Europe / Barbara Bogusz & Mike King -- Recognising Organised Crime's Victims / Jo Goodey -- The Legal Regulation Of Transnational Organised Crime / Estella Baker -- Countering The Chameleon Threat Of Dirty Money / Valsamis Mitsilegas -- Criminal Asset Stripping / Michael Levi -- Proteiform Criminalities / Nicholas Dorn -- Organised Crime And The Conjunction Of Criminal Opportunity Framework / Paul Ekblom -- After Transnational Organised Crime? / Adam Edwards And Peter Gill. Edited By Adam Edwards And Peter Gill. Originally Presented Feb. 1999-feb. 2001 At A Series Of Six Seminars Organized Under The Heading Of Policy Responses To Transnational Organised Crime. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Considers the origins of transnational organised crime, how it has been defined and measured, governments' policy responses and its place on the policy agendas of the UN and EU in the wake of the 'war on terror'