Definitional analysis: the war on terror and organised crime

Abstract

Discusses the relationship between organized crime and terrorism; this is an important area of research in the development of legal and other means for control both of them. Analyses paradigms of organized crime: as nationwide conspiracy, as an avenue for upward social mobility of disadvantaged ethnic groups, and as state‐organised crime or white‐collar crime. Proposes the view that in fact organisations like the Mafia should be regarded as “disorganised crime”. Explains various theories about the nature of terrorism: the instrumental approach, organisational process theory, world system theory, and military theory. Concludes that the distinction between organised crime and terrorism is less clear, since terrorists use the methods of organised crime in order to fund their activities, while organised crime groups often resemble cellular terrorist structures.

Citation

Veng Mei Leong, A. (2004), "Definitional analysis: the war on terror and organised crime", Journal of Money Laundering Control, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 19-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/13685200510621217