sociology

CAN SOMEONE MARK PLEASE
Is globalisation causing an increase in crime ?
Globalisation has made ‘’ the world become more interconnected and increased the scope of crime’’ as stated by item B. This has led to the rise of new types of crime called rise in transnational crime which is caused by increase in technological advancements and cheaper travel. Some examples include human trafficking and drug dealing. Also because of global warming laws from the environmental legislation have been introduced showing an increase in awareness.
Castells argues that globalisation has brought an increase in transnational crime although globalisation provided more affordable travel which allowed businesses to relocate to other countries to increase their profit and technological advancements have given individuals a gateway to connect with each other more easily. The downside of globalisation is that it also created new opportunities for the emergence of new types of crime. The reason for the increase in transnational organised crime is the supply and demand as MEDCs such as the UK have a high demand for illegal goods e.g drugs but the supply side LEDCs is the source of the illegal drugs. As in Colombia 20% of the population is dependent on the cocaine trade for their livelihoods globalisation has made drug trafficking much easier and less likely to be detected. Another example of global crime includes human trafficking as in the roma slum the eastern european gang are trafficking woman to glasgow in scotland, they use coercion techniques provide the girls with false hope and promises that they will save them from their poverty unfortunately these girls are then forced into sham marriages to mostly pakistani older men so that these men can apply for permanent UK residency. These girls are also sexually exploited. The increase in global crime had a negative effect on people on a global scale causing an increase in global risk consciousness for example immigartion in MEDCs for the crimes immigrants commit , much of the information is exaggerated by the media making the fear irrational this presents them has terrorists and scroungers to people which leads to an increase in hate crime against minorities. Globalisation has caused an emergence of new types of crime which can travel across transnational borders but also an increase in hate crime.
Dunningham and Hobbs argue the change in which crime has become organised is brought by economic changes introduced by globalisation. As in contrast to the hierarchical and rigid structures in the past that were often localised e.g Kray brothers criminal gang in east London in the 1950s the new criminal organisations involve individuals with contacts acting as a hub around which loose knit networks of individuals they therefore collaborate for mutual beneficial crime activity on a national level. Globalisation has led to the development of glocal crime which is crime that is locally based but with global links as although criminal organisations have international links the actual crimes are committed on a local level as individuals still need local contacts and networks to find opportunities and sell their drugs. However there is no evidence that the old form of criminal organisation has disappeared and it's possible that these two forms have always co-existed.
Also Glenny argues that globalisation has helped bring about the fall of communism in eastern europe which created new types of transnational organised crime which he referred to as McMafia. Following the fall of communism the russian government deregulated most sectors of the economy except for natural resources such as oil. These remained at their old soviet prices those with power e.g KGB generals were the only ones with access to the funds, and were able to buy the natural resources from the government at low prices and resell them in the international market at high prices. Thus they were able to accumulate a large profit and become the new capitalist elite. However the majority of the population remained very poor and to protect their wealth from the masses hired newly emerging mafias to protect them. These were different to the typical hierarchical structures as emphasised by Dunningham and Hobbs because it had no strict hierarchy but was based on economic self interest.
In addition ‘’ green crime has been given a lot of attention because of the extent of damage to the environment … by transnational corporations’’ as stated by Item B. As the tightening of regulations of disposable waste has increased illegal global disposal of toxic waste . An example includes the Bhopal disaster in india where poisonous gas leaked from the union carbide plant 10000 people died because of exposure to the toxic gas and 20000 were injured. The parent company in USA blamed the subsidiary company in india and escaped prosecution after persuading the Indian government to accept a low settlement for all the victims. Therefore crime can cross transnational borders. Traditional criminologists define environmental crime as breaking the law therefore they tend to examine national laws to see if a crime has been committed. However the disposal of waste and other environmental crimes seem to mostly be in close proximity towards LEDCs and MEDCs have more regulations and stipulated expensive processes to dispose of waste safely it's become more common for MEDCs to ship waste abroad as its cheaper and its not against the law in the other countries. From a utilitarian point of view it's a win win from both sides as poorer countries benefit economically from hosting toxic waste facilities. Although others may object to arguing regardless of poverty no one should live in a dangerous environment.
To conclude globalisation has lead to an increase in transnational crime this has lead to the emergence of new types of crime which include human trafficking and drug dealing e.g cocaine production is 20% of the populations livelihood. However this has led to an increase in global risk consciousness as individuals start to feel insecure because of the increase in global crime this is heavily influenced by media who exaggerate the negative image of immigrants causing people to develop biases and an irrational fear of them. This causes an increase in hate crime. Globalisation has led to changes in criminal organisation structures as Glenny argues the emergence of new types of mafia called the Mcmafia. There is also an increase in green crime. However whether globalisation has caused an increase in crime is dependent on the perspective one agrees with.