BASS Philosophy and Data Analytics / Course details

Organised crime is considered a high priority by many states and intergovernmental bodies worldwide. Ideas and conceptions of organised crime often rely on portrayals from the entertainment industry and media. However, what organised crime is, still remains ill-defined, shaped by clichéd and analytically weak discourses.
Drawing on the literature and cutting-edge research in the field, this course unit provides insights into the structures, activities, and motivations of organised crime, along with recent developments in national and international policy and counteraction. 
In the first part (theory-led), we will explore definitions and theoretical explanations of organised crime, offenders, and victims, while also comparing various types of organised crime groups, from loosely to highly structured. Additionally, we will examine policies and law enforcement efforts in the fight against organised crime. In the second part (research-led), we will consider organised criminal markets, from the local to the global. We will analyse the actors involved and their social organisation, and we will acknowledge the role of the online environment and the broader societal impact of organised crime.

Indicative content: (1) How to define organised crime; (2) Theoretical explanations of organised crime; (3) Organised crime, mafias and county lines; (4) Victims and offenders in organised crime; (5) Countering organised crime; (6) The glocal and global dimension of cocaine trafficking; (7) Modern slavery and the illegal movement of people; (8) Trafficking in legal and illegal goods; (9) Organised crime in cyberspace; (10) Revisiting key themes and assessment guidance.

 

This course unit aims to (1) Engage students with debates concerning contemporary organised crime, including its nature, organisation, causes and control (2) Introduce students to theoretical and analytical perspectives on organised crime; (3) Provide students with insights into policy conceptualisations and debates surrounding organised crime, (4) Engage students with state of the art research on the various forms and dimensions of organised crime, including the actors involved and their social organisation, (5) Offer students the opportunity to critically acknowledge how the concept of organised crime is used to shape policies and interventions at national and international levels.

On successful completion of the course students will be able to (1) Understand the academic and policy debates concerning organised crime, (2) Demonstrate a critical understanding of organised crime and associated issues, (3) Demonstrate a critical understanding of inter/transnational state and non-state responses to organised crime. 

Teaching and learning across course units consists of: (1) preparatory work to be completed prior to teaching sessions, including readings, pre-recorded subject material and online activities; (2) a weekly whole-class lecture; (3) a weekly workshop; and (4) one-to-one support via subject specific office hours.

• Understand the academic and policy debates concerning organised crime; 
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of organised crime and associated issues; 
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of (inter/trans-national) state and non-state responses to organised crime; 

• Develop a coherent argument in relation to the main areas of study;
• Independence of thought and the ability to critically appraise the quality of one's own reasoning; 
   

• Effective use of literature and the use of appropriate referencing/bibliography in essays; 
• Clear and accurate use of language with appropriate grammar/punctuation/ spelling; 
   

A number of personal and transferable skills will be developed including independent learning skills, time management skills, and critical analytical skills. 

Students will be required to work co-operatively in order to maximise their learning.

This unit is summatively assessed by a 3000-word essay worth 100% of the overall mark. 

Formative feedback (both individual and collective) will be given on (1) on tasks and contribution in class, (2) developing essay plans. Detailed formative feedback will be given on the submitted essay plan via Blackboard (Grademark). 

Paoli, L. (2014) (ed), The Oxford Handbook of Organized Crime, Oxford: Oxford University Press;

Newburn, T. (2017) Criminology, 3rd Ed. Abingdon: Routledge pp. 431-462 (Chapter 20 on Organised Crime);

Across their course units each semester, full-time students are expected to devote a '.working week' of around 30-35 hours to study. Accordingly each course unit demands around 10-11 hours of study per week consisting of (i) 3 timetabled teacher-led hours, (ii) 7-8 independent study hours devoted to preparation, required and further reading, and note taking.

This course is available to final year students only. Restricted to: BA (Criminology), BA Social Sciences (BASS) and LLB (Law with Criminology) students. This course is also available to incoming study abroad students university wide.

Pre-requisites: It is desirable for students to have taken 20 credits of any level 1 Criminology module

Timetable:
Please refer to your personalised Criminology timetable