30 January 2012
Extreme close-up: German film brings the spread of neo-Nazi gangs into focus
background to the recent discovery of an unpleasant neo-Nazi "terrorist" group in Germany. Partly reviews a film, partly discusses realities in former East Germany. Maybe Merkel has stuff nearer home to sort out, as well as Greece?
29 January 2012
Mexico's drug war has brought terrifying violence to the streets and taken a dreadful toll of lives
Cautionary tale for West Africa as Kofi Annan calls for Western intervention [see previous post]. "Mexico's drug war is inextricably linked to the democratic transition". Extract from Ioao Grillo's book "El Narco: the Bloody Rise of Mexican drug cartels.
Save West Africa from the drugs barons
Article in Observer by Kofi Annan. 3 dangers: corruption; Drug gangs linking with existing organised crime and even terrorists; health of locals. To the point.
27 January 2012
Fascination with the 'Dutch godfather'
Rare piece in English discussing at least one player in Dutch organised crime.
Five arrested in Milan during a police operation against the 'Ndrangheta
Five men - three of which corrupted members of the Finance Guards - were arrested in Milan during a police operation coordinated by the prosecutor Ilda Boccassini.
25 January 2012
New date for Rome conference
CALL FOR PAPERS
Transnational Organized Crime: Italian Connections
Bilingual Conference (English and Italian)
The American University of Rome
Department of International Relations
23-24 November, 2012
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Nando Dalla Chiesa, University of Milan
Professor Diego Gambetta, European University Institute
The American University of Rome's Department of International Relations will be hosting a two-day international conference focusing on Italy’s current roles within transnational organized crime networks and the on-going attempts to weaken these through legislation, enforcement and grassroots activism.
The conference aims to provide a forum for academics, policymakers and operators in the field to discuss issues of common concern. There is a constant need both to examine the evolving social contexts within which organized crime operates and to evaluate the political, economic and social costs of the globalization of this phenomenon in a country which has a long history of powerful mafias with their own international ramifications. There is a large amount of research on Italy’s crime groups and growing scholarship on the transnational dimensions of the phenomenon. At the same time, political and law enforcement agencies which have to deal with the issues directly produce operational and policymaking material. The opportunities for the different fields to learn about the others and discuss issues and solutions are relatively rare; this initiative seeks to fill this gap and encourage a dialogue.
We particularly invite contributions that relate to one or more of the following themes and which focus on the international dimensions. Papers should present original research and analysis.
• Debates on defining organized crime in Italy
• Methodologies for studying TOC and its effects
• Globalization and ‘liquidity’ of Italian mafia operations
• Transplantation of foreign groups in Italy
• Political connections, clientelism and corruption
• Ties to terrorism
• Money laundering and the legal economy
• ‘Gray’ economies
• Human smuggling and trafficking through and to Italy
• Art crime, fashion and culture industries
• Waste removal and disposal
• Environmental crimes and impacts
• Drugs routes and markets
• Fakes and contraband
• Arms trafficking
• Legal frameworks, national and international
• Current policy approaches
• Italy’s judicial system
• Enforcement agencies, policing and surveillance
• Civil society responses
• The ‘anti-mafia’ economy
The conference will be held in English and Italian.
We hope to publish selected papers and are currently seeking a publisher.
Proposals (c. 300 words and a short biographical note) are invited from both established and unpublished scholars and practitioners and should be sent to Isabella Clough Marinaro and James Walston at:
TOC@aur.edu
Deadline for proposals: 23 April, 2012. We will try to reply by 23 May, 2012.
Registration Fee: 40 Euro
Students: 10 Euro
AUR students Free
(Procedures for paying registration fees will be announced when we circulate the draft program.)
Transnational Organized Crime: Italian Connections
Bilingual Conference (English and Italian)
The American University of Rome
Department of International Relations
23-24 November, 2012
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Nando Dalla Chiesa, University of Milan
Professor Diego Gambetta, European University Institute
The American University of Rome's Department of International Relations will be hosting a two-day international conference focusing on Italy’s current roles within transnational organized crime networks and the on-going attempts to weaken these through legislation, enforcement and grassroots activism.
The conference aims to provide a forum for academics, policymakers and operators in the field to discuss issues of common concern. There is a constant need both to examine the evolving social contexts within which organized crime operates and to evaluate the political, economic and social costs of the globalization of this phenomenon in a country which has a long history of powerful mafias with their own international ramifications. There is a large amount of research on Italy’s crime groups and growing scholarship on the transnational dimensions of the phenomenon. At the same time, political and law enforcement agencies which have to deal with the issues directly produce operational and policymaking material. The opportunities for the different fields to learn about the others and discuss issues and solutions are relatively rare; this initiative seeks to fill this gap and encourage a dialogue.
We particularly invite contributions that relate to one or more of the following themes and which focus on the international dimensions. Papers should present original research and analysis.
• Debates on defining organized crime in Italy
• Methodologies for studying TOC and its effects
• Globalization and ‘liquidity’ of Italian mafia operations
• Transplantation of foreign groups in Italy
• Political connections, clientelism and corruption
• Ties to terrorism
• Money laundering and the legal economy
• ‘Gray’ economies
• Human smuggling and trafficking through and to Italy
• Art crime, fashion and culture industries
• Waste removal and disposal
• Environmental crimes and impacts
• Drugs routes and markets
• Fakes and contraband
• Arms trafficking
• Legal frameworks, national and international
• Current policy approaches
• Italy’s judicial system
• Enforcement agencies, policing and surveillance
• Civil society responses
• The ‘anti-mafia’ economy
The conference will be held in English and Italian.
We hope to publish selected papers and are currently seeking a publisher.
Proposals (c. 300 words and a short biographical note) are invited from both established and unpublished scholars and practitioners and should be sent to Isabella Clough Marinaro and James Walston at:
TOC@aur.edu
Deadline for proposals: 23 April, 2012. We will try to reply by 23 May, 2012.
Registration Fee: 40 Euro
Students: 10 Euro
AUR students Free
(Procedures for paying registration fees will be announced when we circulate the draft program.)
24 January 2012
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Black Market But Were Afraid To Ask
The shadow economy from the point of view of "Business Insider"
After 19 years, Asil Nadir's day in court arrives in £150m fraud saga
he will probably be found not guilty. Others accused already have been.
21 January 2012
Kazakhstan stirs terror nests
JaK - the Army of the Caliphate. A nascent terrorist group in Kazakhstan.
New battle lines drawn in cyberspace
Is there such a thing as cybercrime? or is it simply used to justify government censorship. A discussion of Crimes of the Cyberpowerful in the Asia Times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
