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PL52170: The politics of organised crime

[Page last updated: 16 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CWES 70%, CWOI 30%
Assessment Detail:
  • Online Presentation on specific question relating to organised crime (CWOI 30% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
  • Essay which will apply a theoretical approach to a specific form of organised crime. (CWES 70% - Qualifying Mark: 50)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the, unit you will be able to
  • garner in-depth knowledge of the idea of organised crime and how this impacts the societies that experience it.
  • Examine the most common forms and manifestations of domestic and transnational organised crime.
  • You will develop a strong theoretical understanding of the theories used to explain the different aspects of organised crime.
  • You will develop the skills necessary to assess the threats posed by organised crime to democracies.



Synopsis: Familiarise yourself with the theoretical debates associated with organised crime and its relationship with politics. In this unit, you'll: - discover the ways in which organised crime challenges democracy (politics, economics and civil society) - gain an empirical understanding of organised crime in Europe and beyond - study critical and analytical approaches to the major issues raised by organised crime - assess the security implications of organised crime for the EU and the world

Content: Defining organised crime, Explaining organised crime, theories of organised crime, organised crime and civil society, organised crime and the economy, organised crime and its relationship with politics I, Italian organised crime in Europe, Non-traditional organised crime, organised crime and its relationship with politics II, The fight against organised crime, Gender and organised crime, Transnational organised crime and its challenges.

Course availability:

PL52170 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • THSP-AFM54 : MRes Global Challenges: geopolitics, inequalities and mobilities 
  • THSP-AFM55 : MRes Global Challenges: geopolitics, inequalities and mobilities 

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.