The concept of ‘transnational crime’, from a criminological perspective, originates from the mid-1970s when the United Nations used the term in order to identify certain criminal activities which transcend national jurisdictions. In 1995, the United Nations identified eighteen categories of transnational – and mostly organized – criminality. Transnational crime was then defined as ‘offences whose inception, prevention and/or direct or indirect effects involved more than one country.’ (UN Doc. A.CONF. 169/15/Add.1 (1995)). The crimes listed included ,among others, money laundering, terrorist activities, theft of art and cultural objects, theft of intellectual property, illicit arms trafficking, aircraft hijacking, sea piracy, insurance fraud, computer crime, environmental crime, trafficking in persons, trade in human body parts, illicit drug trafficking, fraudulent bankruptcy, infiltration of legal business, corruption and bribery of public or party officials. Transnational crime has spread exponentially with the development of globalization and it is only relatively recent that some progress has been made by states and international organizations in developing measures to combat this type of criminality.
This Research Guide is intended as a starting point for research in the field on Transnational Crime. It provides the basic legal materials available in the Peace Palace Library, both in print and electronic format. Handbooks, leading articles, bibliographies, periodicals, serial publications and documents of interest are presented in the Selective Bibliography section. Links to the PPL Catalogue are inserted. The Library’s classification index code 250a. Crimes against Foreign States (Counterfeiting Currency, Terrorism, etc.) and subject heading (keyword) Transnational Crime is instrumental for searching through the Catalogue. Special attention is given to our subscriptions on databases, e-journals, e-books and other electronic resources. Finally, this Research Guide features links to relevant websites and other online resources of particular interest.
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Contents: The universe of transnational crime — Drug trafficking — Stolen property — Counterfeiting — Human trafficking — Fraud and cybercrime — Commercial vices : obscenity and pornography — Extortion and racketeering — Money laundering — Corruption and the future.
Jay S. Albanese, 2011Description: The ‘Europeanisation’ of the fight against crime is a broad and much-contested notion. This in-depth analysis of the role of the EU in fighting crime within the area of freedom, security and justice explores the impact of EU policies in the Member States, the progressive convergence of Member States’ criminal law systems, the emergence of mutual recognition as an alternative to harmonization, and the incremental development of the ECJ’s jurisdiction. The essays also explore the limitations inherent in EU counter-crime policies and the changes brought about by the introduction of the Treaty of Lisbon. These changes are discussed both collectively and within individual substantive areas in which the EU has taken an active role in fighting crime, such as corruption, money laundering, terrorism, organised crime and extradition.
Christina Eckes and Theodore Konstadinides (eds.), 2011Description: Important changes have occurred in transnational crime and human trafficking during recent years. These phenomena have become much more global in comparison to the regional level on which they once operated. Europe, North America, and, Asia are now fully integrated into the international problems of organized crime and human trafficking. Examining transnational crime, human trafficking and its implications for human security from both Western and Asian perspectives, this book, with essays from contributors based in Europe, the US, and, Asia fills a gap on all bookshelves; providing an excellent volume on the under considered area of Asian transnational crime. Considering it as a globalized phenomenon which is no longer confined to operating at the traditional regional level, it: outlines the overall picture of organized crime and human trafficking in the contemporary world, examining the current trends and recent developments; contrasts the experience and perception of these problems in Asia with those in Western countries, analyzing the distinctive Japanese perspective on globalization, human security and transnational crime; and examines the policy responses of key states and international institutions – both Asian and Western including Germany, Canada, the United States, the European Union, Japan, Korea, and, Thailand. A timely analysis of the increasingly serious problems of transnational crime, human trafficking and their impact on human security, linking both Western and Asian perspectives.
Shiro Okubo and Louise Shelley (eds.), 2011Description: This book provides a comprehensive introduction to and overview of eco-global criminology. Eco-global criminology refers to a criminological approach that is informed by ecological considerations and by a critical analysis that is global in scale and perspective. Based upon eco-justice conceptions of harm, it focuses on transgressions against environments, non-human species and humans. At the centre of eco-global criminology is analysis of transnational environmental crime. This includes crimes related to pollution (of air, water and land) and crimes against wildlife (including illegal trade in ivory as well as live animals). It also includes those harms that pose threats to the environment more generally (such as global warming). In addressing these issues, the book deals with topics such as the conceptualization of environmental crime or harm, the researching of transnational environmental harm, climate change and social conflict, threats to biodiversity, toxic waste and the transference of harm, prosecution and sentencing of environmental crimes, and environmental victimization and transnational activism. This book argues that analysis of transnational environmental crime needs to incorporate different notions of harm, and that the overarching perspective of eco-global criminology provides the framework for this.
Establishing an authoritative definition of “piracy” in international law has always been rather problematic. The definition is relevant, because any confusion in terminology invariably leads to debates between State sovereignty and universal jurisdiction over crimes at sea. The various international law meanings of piracy are derived from, among others, international treaties, and various municipal law meanings are defined by statutes and State practice.
Read moreVictor Bout, an interpreter and a former Russian military airforce officer suspected of arms trafficking, has been extradited to the United States of America by Thailand. Bout, also called the ‘merchant of death’, is alleged of supplying illegal weapons to various groups and regimes, such as the Taliban, the Sierra leonean Revolutionary United Front, Charles Taylor and al-Qaida.
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Five Somalis are currently on trial in the Netherlands after they failed to hijack a freighter sailing under the Dutch Antilles flag in January. The pirates have expressed their satisfaction with their prison cells, and at least one of them has said he wants to stay in the Netherlands after he is [...]
Read moreSaturday 23 August marks the UN nineth annual International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.
Read moreThe history of piracy goes back in the library collection till 1816. Still the oceans are unsafe, especially the Somali coast is crowded with modern pirates with guns and grenades. As in the old days kidnapping and piracy are lucrative businesses, if a ransom is paid.
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Dark Logic : Transnational Criminal Tactics and Global Security / , 2011
Transnational Crime and the 21st Century : Criminal Enterprise, Corruption, and Opportunity / , 2011
Crime within the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice : A European Public Order / , 2011
Handbook of Transnational Crime and Justice / , 2005
Comparative and International Policing, Justice, and Transnational Crime / , 2010
Crime Without Borders : An Introduction to International Criminal Justice / , 2008
