The term "organised crime" brings to mind Drug Cartels, Mafias, Black Societies and Motorcycle Gangs. What do these groups have in common? What are their differences? What do they actually do? This course aims to unpack and understand the dynamics of organised crime, its actors, groups, activities and organisation as well as their geographical aspects. We will explore from an advanced theoretical and practical perspective the different approaches that have been used in order to explain and understand organised crime, as well as the policy responses to it. Case-based approaches will be used to illustrate throughout the course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon Successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify, understand and critically engage with the main
theoretical approaches to the study of organised crime and their evolution
across time.
- Critically evaluate the contributions of different schools of though to our understanding of organised crime.
- Identify the main characteristics, activities actors and
forms of organised crime and demonstrate high analytical abilities on the
subject.
- Identify and critically analyse organised crime policy at the local and international level.
- Articulate, discuss and critique complex theories in a professional and succinct manner.
Indicative Assessment
Presentation in tutorial: 15 minutes 10% (LO 2, 5)
Policy Brief: 1000 words, 20% (LO 1, 4)
Essay: 1500 words 20% (LO 1, 2, 3, 5)
Major Essay: 3500 words 50% (LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from: a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures, and 12 hours of tutorials; and, b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 17, 23, 26, 27, 31 and 36 in: Allum, Felia and Gilmour, Stan (eds) Routledge Handobook of Transnational Organised Crime, Routledge 2012.
Maltz, Michael. On defining Organised Crime: The development of a definition and a typology. In Varese, F. (ed.) Organised Crime, Routledge, 2011.
Paoli, Letizia. The paradoxes of organised crime, n Varese, F. (ed.) Organised Crime, Routledge, 2011.
Tilly, Charles. War making and state making as organized crime. n Varese, F. (ed.) Organised Crime, Routledge, 2011.
Skaperdas, Stergios. The political economy of organised cirme: providing protection when the state does not. In Varese, F. (ed.) Organised Crime, Routledge, 2011.
Gambetta, Diego. The trademarks. In Varese, F. (ed.) Organised Crime, Routledge, 2011.
Morselli, Carlo and Petit, Katia. Law-enforcement disruption of a drug importation network. In Varese, F. (ed.) Organised Crime, Routledge, 2011.
Preliminary Reading
Varese, Federico. Mafias on the move: How organised crime conquers new territories. Princeton University Press, 2011.
Albanese, Jay and Reichel, Philip (eds). Translational Organised Crime: An overview form six continants. Sage. 2014.
Morselli, Carlo, ed. Crime and Networks. Routledge, 2013.
Gambetta, Diego. The Sicilian Mafia: The Bussiness of Private Protection, Harvard, 1993
Assumed Knowledge
Advanced knowledge of sociology and criminology may be assumed.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $3216 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $4590 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10114 | 24 Jul 2017 | 31 Jul 2017 | 31 Aug 2017 | 27 Oct 2017 | In Person | N/A |