Module description
The field of international relations and political science has given little attention to organised crime and corruption, which has become a focus of interest within these disciplines only recently. From an international relations perspective, it is worth investigating how organised crime is embedded in a larger political context, how politics interconnects with criminality on national and international level and how globalisation affects internationalisation of crime and corruption. Organised crime has indeed gone global, reached the scale of multi-billion business and hence has been described as the growing threat to international security. At the same time criminal and terrorist networks have increasingly interacted with each other leading to the convergence in tactics and activities. The module will cover definitional and conceptual issues related with organised crime, corruption and terrorism; the impact of globalisation on the internationalisation of organised crime; the nexus and interaction between crime, corruption and terrorism; variations in crime-terror nexus across different parts of the world; the anti-crime and anti-terrorism policies and other issues.
*Please note that module information is indicative and may change from year to year.
Assessment details
Seminar Participation (10%), 2,000 word essay (40%) and one 2,000 word essay (50%)
Educational aims & objectives
The educational aim of this module is for the students to learn about the clandestine side of globalisation. The module provides an overview of organised crime, terrorism and corruption and the connection between these three phenomenon. It will discuss the increasingly global nature of transnational organised crime and international terrorism, the ways in which corruption facilitates criminal activities and extremist violence and the mechanisms by which terrorist groups manipulate illegal markets to develop new streams of revenue. The analysis will also address the complexities of crime-terror nexus in different parts of the world and the policies to fight them.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the module a student will:
-
Demonstrate knowledge about organised crime, terrorism, corruption and the connection between these three variables;
-
Reflect critically on the roles of organised crime, terrorism and corruption as facets of contemporary globalisation;
-
Understand and analyse the overlaps between the licit and illicit within contemporary global society, and the implications of this for security and governance at national and international level;
-
Acquire additional tools and ability to explain and evaluate politics and international relations from a difference perspective;
-
Engage critically with debates on policy and law-enforcement responses to transnational organised crime, terrorism and corruption;
- Develop written communication, verbal communication, research and analytical skills.
Teaching pattern
Two hours per week, one lecture and one seminar