Organised crime

In the course of globalisation, organised crime has developed into a transnational phenomenon that increasingly poses a challenge to national judicial systems and democracies. In the public’s perception, however, the relevance of the topic is often underestimated. Difficulties in capturing the extent and the multifaceted characteristics of corruption and organised crime result in vague definitions and impede the search for effective countermeasures. The present volume analyses the causes and the current dimensions of organised crime and compares the situations in different countries. How can organised crime be described? Are certain forms of government less prone to the spread of organised crime than others? How can the interconnectedness of organised crime and legal business as well as the gradual establishment of corruption best be countered? This volume addresses these questions from a sociological, economic, criminological, and judicial perspective, and offers approaches to possible solutions.