Transnational Organised Crime Perspectives on Global Security [Paperback]

The perceived threat of 'transnational organised 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, 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'.

Part 1: Origins of the Concept  1. Transnational Organised Crime: The Global Reach of an American Concept  2.Europe's Response to Transnational Organised Crime  3. Global Law Enforcement as a Protection Racket: Some Sceptical Notes on Transnational Organised Crime as an Object of Global Governance  Part 2: Measurements and Interpretations  4. Measuring Transnational Organised Crime: An Empirical Study of Existing Data Sets on TOC with Particular Reference to Intergovernmental Organisations  5. Classify, Report and Measure: The UK Organised Crime Notification Scheme  6. The Network Paradigm Applied to Criminal Organisations: Theoretical Nit-picking or a Relevant Doctrine for Investigators? Recent Developments in the Netherlands  7. Transnational Organised Crime: A Police Perspective  Part 3: Case Studies