8.1 Crime & Globalisation

• What did Glenny say about McMafia?


  Under communism all prices were regulated by the soviet union, and after it fell most commodities were deregulated

  russians with wealth could buy the regulated goods and sell them internationally for up to 40x more, which created a new ruling class

  The collapse of the communist state also led to disorder and people turned to mafias to protect their wealth, these were purely economic formed in self-interest, and could move wealth internationally
• What is a criticism of Hobbs & Dunningham?

  Isn't clear if these structures are new or if the old ones have disappeared

  However supported by winlow's study of bouncers in Sunderland
• What did Hobbs & Dunningham say about Glocal Organisations?


  Crime is glocalised - locally based but with global connections

  The form of crime will therefore change based on location and local context even if it is globally influenced e.g. drugs trade
• What did Hobbs & Dunningham say about patterns of criminal organisation?


  The way crime is organised is linked to the economic changes caused by globalisation

  Involves individuals with contacts acting as hubs for loose-knit networks of people seeking opportunities

  Contrasts with the large-scale hierarchical mafia-style organisations of crime in the past
• What is a criticism of Taylor?

  Doesn't adequately explain how changes through globalisation make people behave criminally eg. not all poor people turn to crime
• What did Taylor say about the poor & crime?


  Relative deprivation and insecurity create greater inequality in low income communities which encourages crime

  Lack of legitimate job opportunities which drives people to find illegitimate ones such as in the drugs trade

  Workers are often unfairly employed or given unfair contracts and working hours, and sometimes work in conditions in breach of health and safety laws
• What did Taylor say about white collar crime?


  Globalisation has led to changes in the pattern and extent of crime

  Has allowed transnational corporations to extend white collar crime across borders and exploit developing countries, which produces poverty and insecurity
• How has globalisation caused 'global risk consciousness'?


  Globalisation produces a new mentality of 'risk consciousness' as crime and risk are no longer bound by national boundaries

  -The increase of immigration has created anxieties surrounding population and employment for western civilians

  -The media exaggerates this threat by creating moral panics, which lead to greater social control and so an amplification spiral (cohen)

  -Also increases attempts at international cooperation in 'wars' on terror and drugs
• How has globalisation affected supply & demand?

  Supply - the rich west consuming the products

  Demand - the developing countries that provide the products eg. 20% of the colombian population depends on the production of cocaine for their livelihood and it outsells all other exports combined
• What did Held et al say about the globalisation of crime?


  -There has been a globalisation of crime as it is no longer restrained by national boundaries

  -Creates new opportunities for crime, new means of committing crime and new offences

  -There has also been a spread of transnational organised crime eg. the mafia
• What are examples of global crime?

  Arms trafficking

  Smuggling immigrants

  Tracking women and children

  Cyber crimes

  Drugs trade

  Money laundering
• How much does Castells say the global criminal economy makes per year?

  Over £1 trillion
• Globalisation

  The increasing interconnectedness of people and societies across the world