Organized crime and state capture in the Western Balkans

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-306
Author(s):  
Rafał Woźnica
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Political Elites ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Symbiotic Relationships ◽  
Eu Integration ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
State Capture ◽  
Organized Crime Groups ◽  
Conflict Period

The main objective of the article is to show that the temporary symbiosis between centres of political power and organized crime leads to the development of permanent, corrupt and opaque networks. Focusing on the countries of the Western Balkans, the author points to the reasons for the development of organized crime in the region and then to the conditions created in the post-conflict period that resulted in the failure of effective attempts to stop organized crime and the corruption that facilitates it in the these countries. The article also points out that the creation of symbiotic relationships between political elites and organized crime groups leads to a ‘state capture.’ The unresolved problems of corruption and organized crime, in turn, have a direct impact on these countries’ EU-integration processes.

scholarly journals HUMAN SECURITY, TERRORISM AND ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (72) ◽  
pp. 178-186
Author(s):  
Cristina TĂRTEAȚĂ
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Human Security ◽  
The State ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Global Security ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Organized Crime Groups

In this study we have analyzed the paradigm of Human Security and how it differs from the more known idea of global security in the context of war, terrorism and organizedcrime in the Western Balkans. To emphasize this, we have presented the main terrorist threats and attacks that have occurred in countries like: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia and the Kosovo province, also presenting the complexity of factors that have contributed to the present geopolitical climate. Also, we have compared the number of organized crime groups in these countries and how they contribute to the state of corruption that leads to violence, poverty and inequality. In the end of this paper, we have proposed a series of potential solutions to merge both human and global security in order to create a safer Balkan community in the context of the European Union.Keywords: Human Security, terrorism, organized crime, Western Balkans, European Union.

Legal Mechanism of Using Agent/s Undercover in Crime Detection of Organized Crime Group

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-144
Author(s):  
Atanas Brandev
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Criminal Procedure ◽  
Clear Distinction ◽  
Joint Training ◽  
Crime Detection ◽  
Organized Crime Groups ◽  
Legal Mechanism ◽  
Laws And Regulations

AbstractUsed by undercover agents in detecting and documenting crimes committed by the so-called. ‘Organized crime groups’ is a relatively poorly used but extremely effective method. The latter is a combination of criminal procedure and special laws and regulations. The full use of undercover agents requires further enhancement of the legal safeguards for the protection of the employees in question, as well as a clear distinction between acts performed by the employees in question, whether or not in connection with their undercover activities, with or without the implementation of different composition of crime. Attention should be paid to the mechanisms for the selection and joint training of the latter, including through the exchange of experience of EU partner services.

The Challenges in Dealing with Organized Crime and its Consequences in Modern Societies in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia – the Balkan Peninsula

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 161
Author(s):  
Bashkim Selmani ◽  
Bekim Maksuti
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Balkan Peninsula ◽  
Human Mind ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
The Public ◽  
Before And After ◽  
History Of ◽  
European Standards ◽  
Organized Crime Groups ◽  
Further Development

The profound changes within the Albanian society, including Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia, before and after they proclaimed independence (in exception of Albania), with the establishment of the parliamentary system resulted in mass spread social negative consequences such as crime, drugs, prostitution, child beggars on the street etc. As a result of these occurred circumstances emerged a substantial need for changes within the legal system in order to meet and achieve the European standards or behaviors and the need for adoption of many laws imported from abroad, but without actually reading the factual situation of the psycho-economic position of the citizens and the consequences of the peoples’ occupations without proper compensation, as a remedy for the victims of war or peace in these countries. The sad truth is that the perpetrators not only weren’t sanctioned, but these regions remained an untouched haven for further development of criminal activities, be it from the public state officials through property privatization or in the private field. The organized crime groups, almost in all cases, are perceived by the human mind as “Mafia” and it is a fact that this cannot be denied easily. The widely spread term “Mafia” is mostly known around the world to define criminal organizations.The Balkan Peninsula is highly involved in these illegal groups of organized crime whose practice of criminal activities is largely extended through the Balkan countries such as Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, etc. Many factors contributed to these strategic countries to be part of these types of activities. In general, some of the countries have been affected more specifically, but in all of the abovementioned countries organized crime has affected all areas of life, leaving a black mark in the history of these states.

BASIC PROSTITUTION ORGANIZATIONS TYPES

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 2091-2100
Author(s):  
Venelin Terziev ◽  
Hristo Bonev
Keyword(s):  
Human Trafficking ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
System Management ◽  
Criminal Organizations ◽  
Organized Crime Groups ◽  
Sexual Services

This article outlines the three main prostitution organization types as well as hierarchical structures in criminal organizations dealing with human trafficking, prostitution and sexual exploitation. Several major categories of personages are directly involved in organized crime groups. The main indicators for assessing the prostitution prevention are defined and the principles for system management and management are justified. The three factors of prostitution management - psychological, social and financial - are outlined. An evaluation of the prostitution market has been carried out and the functions of the domestic and external markets for paid sex are described. The data provided gives us a reason to assume that the consumption of sexual services is increasing.

scholarly journals Indigenous People, Organized Crime and Natural Resources: Borders, Incentives and Relations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daan P. van Uhm ◽  
Ana G. Grigore
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Environmental Harm ◽  
Criminological Perspective ◽  
History Of ◽  
Organized Crime Groups ◽  
Criminal Groups

AbstractThis article explores the relationship between the Emberá–Wounaan and Akha Indigenous people and organized crime groups vying for control over natural resources in the Darién Gap of East Panama and West Colombia and the Golden Triangle (the area where the borders of Laos, Myanmar (Burma), and Thailand meet), respectively. From a southern green criminological perspective, we consider how organized crime groups trading in natural resources value Indigenous knowledge. We also examine the continued victimization of Indigenous people in relation to environmental harm and the tension between Indigenous peoples’ ecocentric values and the economic incentives presented to them for exploiting nature. By looking at the history of the coloniality and the socioeconomic context of these Indigenous communities, this article generates a discussion about the social framing of the Indigenous people as both victims and offenders in the illegal trade in natural resources, particularly considering the types of relationships established with dominant criminal groups present in their ancestral lands.

Policing and the Legacies of Wartime State Predation: Evidence from a Survey and Field Experiment in Liberia

2021 ◽  
pp. 002200272110130
Author(s):  
Robert A. Blair ◽  
Benjamin S. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Security Sector Reform ◽  
Security Sector ◽  
Sector Reform ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
State Security ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Conflict Period

How does violence during civil war shape citizens’ willingness to trust and rely on state security providers in the post-conflict period? Can post-conflict security sector reform restore perceptions of state security forces among victims of wartime state predation? Using a survey and field experiment in Liberia, we show that rebel-perpetrated violence is strongly positively correlated with trust and reliance on the police after conflict is over, while state-perpetrated violence is not. Victims of wartime state predation are, however, more likely to update their priors about the police in response to positive interactions with newly reformed police officers. We also show that abuses committed by police officers in the post-conflict period are negatively correlated with citizens’ perceptions of the police, potentially counteracting the positive effects of security sector reform. We corroborate our quantitative findings with detailed qualitative observations of interactions between civilians and police officers in the field.

scholarly journals Organization, operations, and success of environmental organized crime in Italy and India: A comparative analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aunshul Rege ◽  
Anita Lavorgna
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Organized Crime ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Sand Mining ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Operational Practices ◽  
Organized Crime Groups ◽  
Organizational Mechanisms ◽  
Environmental Crimes

Despite the devastating short- and long-term consequences of resource-related environmental crimes, rampant illegal soil and sand mining continues worldwide. In countries such as India and Italy, organized crime groups have emerged as prominent illegal suppliers of soil and sand. The proposed study focuses on an understudied research area at the intersection between organized crime and environmental crimes, and offers a trans-comparative study of illegal soil and sand mining conducted by Indian and Italian organized crime groups with two main objectives. First, a comparative analysis of the organizational mechanisms, operational practices, threat management, and supporting cultural, regulatory, and policing factors is conducted. Second, a discussion of how these groups reflect mainstream models and theories of organized crime is offered.

Uncovering Organized Shoplifting and Theft Networks

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Crocker ◽  
Michael Skidmore ◽  
Sarah Webb ◽  
Sarah Garner ◽  
Martin Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organized Crime ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Foreign Nationals ◽  
Police Data ◽  
Organized Crime Groups

Abstract This article explores the role of organized crime groups in persistent theft and shop theft. It is based on an analysis of police data using exploratory analytical techniques assessing the extent of connectivity between acquisitive offenders. The research also draws on qualitative data collected from interviews. The findings suggest that shop theft was predominantly committed by UK nationals; although foreign nationals were proportionately more likely to be involved in organized crime, there is some evidence that they may themselves be being exploited. The findings are discussed and suggestions for further research are made.

scholarly journals Cryptoglossia as part of linguistic practice of the slavophone population of Kosovo and Metohija

2011 ◽  
pp. 241-254
Author(s):  
Mitra Reljic
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
National Identities ◽  
Linguistic Practice ◽  
Study Material ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Life Circumstances ◽  
Conflict Period

Due to frequent interethnic crises, territory occupations and other similar life circumstances, the Slavic population of Kosovo and Metohija, particularly the Serbs, have been too often forced to disquise their linguistic and national identities. In terms of its range of practice and of aspects of manifestation, this phenomenon, here referred to by the term cryptoglossia, was especially evident in the early post-conflict period at the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st century. The paper discusses the causes, different aspects of manifestation, and consequences of the phenomenon, illustrating them with a number of examples taken from our study material.

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