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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 326H"
COURSE NAME: "Globalization and Crime (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2015
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Isabella Clough Marinaro
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00PM 4:15PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: at least one 200-level course in Economics, International Affairs or Business
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims to introduce students to debates surrounding the effects of globalization on the proliferation of crime across borders and the challenges of developing internationally effective policing and judicial mechanisms for combating this constantly mutating phenomenon. It aims to engage students in discussions concerning the difficulties of defining and measuring fluid and covert activities, and seeks to highlight the complex interconnections between criminal earnings and the legal economy, and between criminal interests and state and non-state actors. Through in-depth exploration of various sectors in which transnational crime is increasingly active, from art trafficking to the illegal waste trade, students are encouraged to move beyond simplistic dichotomies of ‘legal’ vs ‘illegal’, ‘right’ vs ‘wrong’ and to address the many ways in which non-criminal actors participate in these processes and markets.
The course is intended for students of International Affairs and should also appeal to Business, Economics and Art History students.
Honors students will write an extended research paper, give a 20-minute presentation to their peers and have individual meetings to discuss the progress of their research with the professor.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course explores the ways in which organized criminal groups (OCGs) and activities are evolving as a result of globalization. It examines how the opening up of markets, transportation routes and communication technologies are facilitating ever more efficient and capillary illegal trades in goods and people. Areas of study include the trafficking of art and archaeology, fake fashion items, waste, narcotics, and arms, as well as the market in human beings for sex and organs. We examine the economic implications of growing criminal penetration in legal financial markets as well as the concerns for state security posed by the increasing connections between international crime groups and terrorism, the political and military influence of OCGs in failed states and the connections between criminal groups and various democratic governments. We will debate the challenges to fighting these phenomena and weigh up the implications for international stability, democracy, national sovereignty and the preservation of rights in attempts to develop global security responses.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
· Outline the problems of defining and measuring transnational organized crime groups and activities
· Outline the international agreements and strategies currently in place to fight TOC, and provide examples of effective mechanisms at national and regional levels
· Discuss the challenges and obstacles to developing more incisive measures to tackle global crime
· Demonstrate detailed factual knowledge of the various criminal groups, networks and sectors examined in the course
· Contextualize the criminal activities and markets within a firm knowledge of post-Cold War geopolitical developments
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Organised Crime and the Challenge to Democracy | Allum, F. and Siebert, R. (eds) (2008) | Routledge | 0415467276 | | |
| Defining and Defying Organized Crime | Allum, F. et al (eds) (2010) | Routledge | 0415548527 | | |
| Routledge Handbook of Transnational Organised Crime | Allum, F. and Gilmour, S. (2011) | Routledge | 0415579791 | | |
| Transnational Organised Crime: Perspectives on Global Security | Edwards, Adam and Peter Gill (eds) (2006) | Routledge | 0415403391 | | |
| Traffick: The Illicit Movement of People and Things | Bhattacharyya, G. (2005) | Pluto | 0745320473 | | |
| Art and Crime | Charney, N. (ed) (2009) | Praeger | 0313366357 | | |
| Deviant Globalization: Black Market Economy in the 21st Century | Gilman, N., Goldhammer, J. and Weber, S. (eds) | Continuum | 1441178104 | | |
| Policing Organized Crime | Gottschalk, P (2009) | CRC Press (Electronic book) | 1439810141 | | |
| Fraud, Corruption and Sport | Brooks, Graham, Azeem Aleem and Mark Button (2013) | Palgrave | 0230299784 | | |
| Transnational Organised Crime | Madsen, F. (2009) | Routledge | 0415464994 | | |
| Transnational organized crime: An overview from six continents. | Albanese, J. S., & Reichel, P. L. (2014). | Sage | 1452290075 | | |
| Understanding Organized Crime | Mallory, S. (2011) | Jones and Bartlett | 1449648045 | | |
| Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy | Naim, Moises (2007) | Arrow | 0434013501 | | |
| Global Organized Crime: A Reference Handbook | Roth, M. (2010) | ABC-CLIO (Electronic | 159884332X | | |
| Organized Crime: Culture, Markets and Policies | Siegel, D. and Nelen, H. (eds) (2008) | Springer (Electronic book) | 0387097104 | | |
| Illicit Flows and Criminal Things: States, Borders, and the Other Side of Globalization | van Schendel, W. and Abraham, I. (eds) (2005) | Indiana University Press (Electronic book) | 025321811X | | |
| Mafias on the Move: How Organized Crime Conquers New Territories: The Globalization of Organized Crime | Varese, F. (2011) | Princeton University Press | 0691158010 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Mid-term exam | Essay-based exam in which students critically engage with the materials and debates presented in class lectures, discussions and readings | 20% |
| Final Exam | Essay-based exam in which students critically engage with the materials and debates presented in class lectures, discussions and readings | 30% |
| Oral presentation based on research project | Students present the methodology and findings of their research paper (see below). 20 minute extended presentation using powerpoint. | 10% |
| Final Research Paper | Students will develop a research paper on one of the problems/issues discussed in the course and will debate its dynamics, impacts and possible solutions, drawing from the recommended readings and further bibliographical research. Essays should explore in depth one aspect of the globalization of crime, looking at a single geographical area, a single criminal activity/market or a single criminal grouping/network. Alternatively, they can be a comparative study of two cases. They should prioritize analysis over description.
Students will write a minimum of 3,000 words excluding the bibliography and will base their research on AT LEAST 5 scholarly sources. They will submit an outline 1 month before the deadline detailing their research question, data gathering methods, main points of their paper and sources. | 25% |
| Class participation | Attendance is mandatory. Participation is graded based on the student's comments, questions, active note-taking and general active engagement in class discussions and activities. | 15% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cou
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performance demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Letter grades and corresponding percentages for this class
94 – 100 points = A
90 – 93.99 pts = A-
87 – 89.99 = B+
83 – 86.99 = B
80 – 82.99 = B-
77 – 79.99 = C+
70 – 76.99 = C
60 – 69.99 = D
59.99 – 0 = F
Attendance is mandatory and, alongside active participation in class, makes up 15% of the final grade. Two unexcused absences will be tolerated, after which your grade will be lowered in proportion to each class missed.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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SCHEDULE
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Session
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Session Focus
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Reading and other Assignments
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WK1A
20 Jan
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Introduction to the course
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United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000) (esp p5-12)
ON MyJCU
http://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNTOC/Publications/TOC%20Convention/TOCebook-e.pdf
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WK 1B
22 Jan
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Defining and Measuring Transnational Organized Crime
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van Schendel, W. and Abraham, I. (eds) (2005) Illicit Flows and Criminal Things: States, Borders, and the Other Side of Globalization, Indiana University Press. Introduction (p 1-37).
ON MyJCU |
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WK 2A
27 Jan
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Liquid crime: Globalization and its deviances
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Naim, Moises (2007) Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy, Arrow, Chapter 2 (p. 12-37)
HANDOUT
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WK 2B
29 Jan
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Practices of transnational organized crime
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Chambliss, W.J. and Williams, E. (2011) in Allum, F. and Gilmour, S. “Transnational Organized Crime and Social Sciences Myths” in Routledge Handbook of Transnational Organised Crime, Routledge, Chapter 3, p. 52-64
HANDOUT
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WK3A
3 Feb
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Money laundering, the ‘clean’ economy and ‘gray’ economies
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Money laundering entry in Encyclopedia of Transnational Crime and Justice (2012) (p.259-270)
On MyJCU
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WK3B
5 Feb
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Cybercrimes
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Yar, M. (2006). Cybercrime and Society. London: SAGE Publications. Chapter 1 (p.1-20) On MyJCU
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WK4A
10 Feb
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Counterfeits and Intellectual Property Crimes
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Hilton, B., Choi, C. J., & Chen, S. (December 01, 2004). The Ethics of Counterfeiting in the Fashion Industry: Quality, Credence and Profit Issues. Journal of Business Ethics, 55, 4, 343-352.
On MyJCU
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WK 4B
12 Feb
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Counterfeits and Intellectual Property Crimes
Cont’d
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WK5A
17 Feb
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Trafficking in art and antiquities
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Adler, Christine, Chappell, Duncan, & Polk, Kenneth. (2009). Perspectives on the organisation and control of the illicit traffic in antiquities in South East Asia. Research Online.
On MYJCU
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WK 5B
19 Feb
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Trafficking in art and antiquities
Cont’d
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WK6A
24 Feb
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Trading in human beings - smuggling
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Keefe, P. R. (January 01, 2009). Snakeheads and Smuggling: The Dynamics of Illegal Chinese Immigration. World Policy Journal, 26, 1, 33-44.
On MyJCU
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WK6B
26 Feb
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Trading in human beings – the trafficking business
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UNODC Global report onTrafficking In persons
(Students read and summarize assigned sections)
ON MyJCU
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WK 7A
3 Mar
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Documentary screening
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The New York Times article "The Girls Next Door" by Peter Landsman January 25, 2005
READ ONLINE:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/magazine/the-girls-next-door.html
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WK 7B
5 Mar
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Mid-term exam
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WK 8A
10 Mar
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Cocaine trafficking: new routes and methods
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Stephen Ellis, “West Africa's International Drug Trade,” African Affairs, 108(431), 2009: 171-196.
On MyJCU
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WK8B
12 Mar
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Heroin, cannabis and synthetic drug trafficking
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Eisler, David (2012) “Afghanistan’s Opium Economy: Incentives, Insurgency, and International Demand”, Journal of International Affairs
READ ONLINE
http://jia.sipa.columbia.edu/online-articles/afghanistans-opium-economy/
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WK 9A
17 Mar
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The drug trade continued
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WK 9B
19 Mar
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The illicit waste trade
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“Computers pile up in Ghana dump” BBC 5 August 2008
READ ONLINE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7543489.stm
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WK10A
24 Mar
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Environmental crimes
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Jonny Steinberg “The illicit abalone trade in South Africa”
ISS Paper 105 • April 2005, http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/papers/105/Paper105.htm
ON MyJCU
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WK10B
26 Mar
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Environmental crimes Cont’d
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WK11A
31 Mar
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Weak and failed states and transnational crime
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“Failed states. Fixing a broken world”, The Economist Jan 29th 2009
READ ONLINE
http://www.economist.com/node/13035718
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WK11B
2 April
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Weak and failed states and transnational crime cont’d
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“Conflict Minerals: The Price of Precious”, National Geographic, 2013
READ ONLINE
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/conflict-minerals/gettleman-text
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WK12A
14 April
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Transnational crime and terrorism
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START “Background Report on Boko Haram”, 2014
On MyJCU
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WK12B
16 April
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International governance and its challenges
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Council on Foreign Relations (2013) “The Global Regime for Transnational Crime”
READ ONLINE
http://www.cfr.org/transnational-crime/global-regime-transnational-crime/p28656
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WK 13 A
21 April
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Fighting global crime: State of the art and best practice
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WK 13B
23 April
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WK 14A
28 April
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Student Presentations
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WK 14B
30 April
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Student Presentations
Conclusions and review
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