SC556-7-AU-CO:
Organised Crime: Global and Local
2020/21
Sociology and Criminology
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 18 December 2020
20
29 June 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MA MF9112 Organised Crime, Terrorism and Security,
MSC MF9012 Organised Crime, Terrorism and Security,
MSC L31124 Migration Studies
This module covers the construction of organised crime as a concept, and the utility of the concept as a tool of governance. In doing so, the module will look at both landmark studies and the emerging horizons within the field of organised crime studies by close readings of recent cutting-edge work by leading authors in the field.
This module examines the phenomena of organised crime from critical and theoretical perspectives. By starting from the paradigms of mafias, especially Italian mafias, and the definitions of organised crime, through a multi-disciplinary approach, this module will engage with key definitional debates relating to social, political, media, cultural and ideological dimensions of this field of study. Additionally, theoretical debates are outlined and applied to counter measures, in criminal law and criminal procedures against organised crime across states. In addition to its international and interdisciplinary focus on different organised criminal activities, the module will look at different countries, groups' movements and migration of criminal activities. The module emphasises the local sphere of criminal networks and their links with societies and communities as a lens through which many of these themes are filtered.
This module examines the phenomena of organised crime from critical and theoretical perspectives. Implicit in this study is a multi-disciplinary approach, albeit one which emphasises criminological analysis. In doing so, key definitional debates relating to social, political, media, cultural and ideological understandings of the phenomena are examined. Additionally, theoretical debates are outlined and applied to different modes of organised criminal activity. In addition to its international and interdisciplinary focus, the module emphasises the importance of the relationship between the local and the global.
By the end of the course, students should:
a) Be able to show an understanding of the forms, patterns and trends characterising of organised crime.
b) Have developed a critical awareness of the broad social, cultural, economic and political aspects organised crime.
c) Be able to assess the impacts and consequences of organised crime activities.
Please note that assessment information is currently showing for 2019-20 and will be updated in September.
6 entries Portfolio (100%) submitted as one document to FASER.
Please note any file format is acceptable to FASER providing the file does not exceed the file size limit which is 50 MB
No information available.
- Campana, Paolo; Varese, Federico. (2018-10-05) 'Organized Crime in the United Kingdom: Illegal Governance of Markets and Communities', in The British Journal of Criminology. vol. 58 (6) , pp.1381-1400
- (2014) The Oxford handbook of organized crime, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Catino, Maurizio. (2020-07) 'Italian Organized Crime since 1950', in Crime and Justice. vol. 49, pp.69-140
- Lauchs, Mark; Staines, Zoe. (2019-04-03) 'An analysis of outlaw motorcycle gang crime: are bikers organised criminals?', in Global Crime. vol. 20 (2) , pp.69-89
- Sergi, Anna. (2018-06-13) 'Polycephalous ‘ndrangheta: Crimes, behaviours and organisation of the Calabrian mafia in Australia', in Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology., pp.000486581878257-
- Arsovska, Jana. (2016) 'Strategic Mobsters or Deprived Migrants? Testing the Transplantation and Deprivation Models of Organized Crime in an Effort to Understand Criminal Mobility and Diversity in the United States', in International Migration. vol. 54 (2) , pp.160-175
- European Union Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment | Europol, https://www.europol.europa.eu/activities-services/main-reports/european-union-serious-and-organised-crime-threat-assessment-2017
- Paoli, Letizia. (2014) 'How to Tackle (Organized) Crime in Europe: The EU Policy Cycle on Serious and Organized Crime and the New Emphasis on Harm', in Eur. J. Crime Crim. L. & Crim.. vol. 22 (2014) , pp.1-122014
- Sergi, Anna. (2020-04-20) 'Playing Pac-Man in Portville: Policing the dilution and fragmentation of drug importations through major seaports', in European Journal of Criminology., pp.147737082091346-
- Meliáá, Manuel Cancio. (2008-11-01) 'The Wrongfulness of Crimes of Unlawful Association', in New Criminal Law Review. vol. 11 (4) , pp.563-589
- Sergi, Anna. (2017) From Mafia to organised crime: a comparative analysis of policing models, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Zaitch, Damián. (2002) 'From Cali to Rotterdam: Perceptions of Colombian cocaine traffickers on the Dutch port', in Crime, Law and Social Change. vol. 38 (3) , pp.239-266
- Carrapico, Helena. (2014-10-02) 'Analysing the European Union's responses to organized crime through different securitization lenses', in European Security. vol. 23 (4) , pp.601-617
- Sergi, Anna. (2015-05-05) 'Organised crime in English criminal law', in Journal of Money Laundering Control. vol. 18 (2) , pp.182-201
- Professor Alberto Vannucci, Professor Donatella della Porta. (no date) The Hidden Order of Corruption: An Institutional Approach.
- Gootenberg, Paul. (2012) 'Cocaine’s Long March North, 1900–2010', in Latin American Politics and Society. vol. 54 (1) , pp.159-180
- Varese, Federico. (2020-07) 'How Mafias Migrate: Transplantation, Functional Diversification, and Separation', in Crime and Justice. vol. 49, pp.289-337
- Bergman, Marcelo. (2018) More money, more crime: prosperity and rising crime in Latin America, New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
- Van Duyne, Petrus C. (1996-9) 'Organized crime, corruption and power', in Crime, Law and Social Change. vol. 26 (3) , pp.201-238
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
6 entries Portfolio submitted as one zip folder to FASER |
16/12/2020 |
50% |
| Coursework |
Essay |
18/01/2021 |
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Anna Sergi, email: asergi@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Anna Sergi
Michele Hall, Graduate Administrator, Tel: 01206 873051 Email: socpgadm@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
No
Prof Paul Stretesky
The University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Professor of Criminology
Prof Benjamin Bradford
University College London
Professor
Available via Moodle
Of 570 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
570 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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