Globalization and crime. The emerging role of international institutions. JMWP No. 07.97, February 1997

This essay calls attention on the international dimension of internal security. The "action" side of such a dimensions - that is the growing trans-national crime, mainly organized crime - has yet received much attention. Less attention, and energy, receives the "containment" side, that is the prevention and repression of trans-national crime by national and international institutions. By no means, the "containment" side is in a very early stage of development. Deeds and plans are small and, with regard to the seriousness of the problem, discouraging. However, the nature and size of the problem are so much important that the emergence of the role of international institutions will certainly grow in the years ahead. The first part of this paper looks at the crime side of the international dimension of internal security; the second part, instead, looks at the containment side, that is at the programs of international organizations and the actions of groups of governments aimed at responding to crime at the global level