1. Develop an in-depth understanding of transnational organised crime
2. Assess the nature and organisation of transnational organised crime processes
3. Explain how organised crime affects legitimate structures and markets
4. Reflect on how learning outcomes 1-3 relate to the governance and regulation of organised crime

The assessment for this module will consist of a 3500-word essay based on a key topic related to contemporary transnational organised crime and its processes. In particular, students will be expected to critically analyse an organised crime topic in relation to its core dynamics, its organisation, and its governance. Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 are met by completion of this essay.

Progressing from the activities of organised crime groups previously covered (the ‘who’), this module examines numerous thematic processes associated with organised crime (the ‘what’). Crucially, the organised crime paradigm itself will be critically interrogated in order to examine how crime develops and thrives in otherwise legitimate structures, markets, and businesses. Throughout the module, a focus will be maintained on transnational issues and potential interventions. A core aim of the module is to situate organised crime within its various historical, political-economic, legal, and socio-cultural settings, thereby critiquing the value of an ‘organised crime’ framework in explaining the phenomena under consideration. In turn, this critique will enable students to develop rigorous assessments concerning the nature, organisation, and governance of organised crime within contemporary settings. Some of the subject content may change from year to year due to continuous developments in the field.

Progressing from the activities of organised crime groups previously covered (the ‘who’), this module examines numerous thematic processes associated with organised crime (the ‘what’). Crucially, the organised crime paradigm itself will be critically interrogated in order to examine how crime develops and thrives in otherwise legitimate structures, markets, and businesses. Throughout the module, a focus will be maintained on transnational issues and potential interventions. A core aim of the module is to situate organised crime within its various historical, political-economic, legal, and socio-cultural settings, thereby critiquing the value of an ‘organised crime’ framework in explaining the phenomena under consideration. In turn, this critique will enable students to develop rigorous assessments concerning the nature, organisation, and governance of organised crime within contemporary settings. Some of the subject content may change from year to year due to continuous developments in the field.

26 hours will be taken up with class contact. 174 hours will be guided independent learning. Class contact will comprise of lectures and seminars, which will be linked to the course material, assignment preparation, and guidance to work independently with source materials.

Albanese, J.S., Reichel, P.L. (eds.) (2013) Transnational Organized Crime – An Overview from Six Continents. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Bruinsma, G. (ed.) (2015) Histories of Transnational Crime. New York: Springer.
Madsen, F. (2009) Transnational Organized Crime. Abingdon: Routledge.
Paoli, L. (ed.) (2014) The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

- The University library
- PCs with standard suite of University software providing access to email, the internet, word processing, etc.
- Lecture rooms with access for disabled students, and suitable for group work.
- The Blackboard virtual learning environment.
- Full-text journals database for criminology (SAGE).