Difficulties in applying generic conceptualisations of organised crime to specific national circumstances

Book synopsis: Who really pulls the strings in the international economy? Is it the leaders of the most powerful nations? The high-profile CEOs of megacorporations? Or is it the unseen bosses of organized crime, controlling the world's economy from behind the scenes like puppet masters? This fascinating work is a two-volume guide to the shadow world, the critical issues, and the global reach of organized crime. Despite its impact on international security and the world economy, organized crime is an unusual topic for a reference book. Difficult to research, the high-profit, high-risk subculture of drug lords, diamond smugglers, and sex slavers is rarely investigated by scholars. Organized Crime: An International Encyclopedia ventures behind the scenes into this hazardous territory. In the first volume, expert contributors offer a global perspective on issues such as weapons and arms trafficking, high-tech and cyber crimes, the future of organized crime, and the connection between organized crime and armed conflicts. The second volume consists entirely of primary documents, national and international laws, and treaties that reflect the international community's many attempts—largely ineffective—to combat organized crime. Together the two volumes provide students and general readers with a road map to a shadow world with far-reaching impact on the world we know. Features Over 140 entries, arranged alphabetically by theme, on topics such as financial fraud, terrorism, health care fraud, and Internet extortion Includes essays by more than 65 international experts Offers a timeline depicting the history and development of international organized crime Includes an entire volume of primary source documents A directory of major organized crime groups and international criminal networks and an extensive bibliography round out the coverage Highlights Presents an unusual overview (by region) of the organized crime problem Explains current theories about the causes of organized criminal behavior Describes a wide range of criminal enterprises currently engaged in by organized criminal groups Examines the impact of organized crime on the global security environmen