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January 7, 2012 In News

CALL FOR PAPERS TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME: ITALIAN CONNECTIONS

CHANGE OF DATE FOR ROME MARCH 2012

CALL FOR PAPERS

Transnational Organized Crime: Italian Connections

Bilingual Conference (English and Italian)

The American University of Rome
Department of International Relations

23-24March, 2012

Keynote Speakers:

Professor Nando Dalla Chiesa, University of Milan

Professor Diego Gambetta, European University Institute

The American University of Rome’s Department of International Relations will be hosting a two-day international conference focusing on Italy’s current roles within transnational organized crime networks and the on-going attempts to weaken these through legislation, enforcement and grassroots activism.

The conference aims to provide a forum for academics, policymakers and operators in the field to discuss issues of common concern. There is a constant need both to examine the evolving social contexts within which organized crime operates and to evaluate the political, economic and social costs of the globalization of this phenomenon in a country which has a long history of powerful mafias with their own international ramifications. There is a large amount of research on Italy’s crime groups and growing scholarship on the transnational dimensions of the phenomenon. At the same time, political and law enforcement agencies which have to deal with the issues directly produce operational and policymaking material. The opportunities for the different fields to learn about the others and discuss issues and solutions are relatively rare; this initiative seeks to fill this gap and encourage a dialogue.

We particularly invite contributions that relate to one or more of the following themes and which focus on the international dimensions. Papers should present original research and analysis.

Debates on defining organized crime in Italy
Methodologies for studying TOC and its effects
Globalization and ‘liquidity’ of Italian mafia operations
Transplantation of foreign groups in Italy
Political connections, clientelism and corruption
Ties to terrorism
Money laundering and the legal economy
‘Gray’ economies
Human smuggling and trafficking through and to Italy
Art crime, fashion and culture industries
Waste removal and disposal
Environmental crimes and impacts
Drugs routes and markets
Fakes and contraband
Arms trafficking
Legal frameworks, national and international
Current policy approaches
Italy’s judicial system
Enforcement agencies, policing and surveillance
Civil society responses
The ‘anti-mafia’ economy

The conference will be held in English and Italian.
We hope to publish selected papers and are currently seeking a publisher.

Proposals (c. 300 words and a short biographical note) are invited from both established and unpublished scholars and practitioners and should be sent to Isabella Clough Marinaro and James Walston at:

TOC@aur.edu

Deadline for proposals: 23 April, 2012. We will try to reply by 23 May, 2012.

Registration Fee: 40 Euro
Students: 10 Euro
AUR students Free

(Procedures for paying registration fees will be announced when circulate the draft program.)

January 1, 2012 In News

MILITANTS CREATE HAVEN IN SOUTHERN YEMEN

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula take advantage of the disorder in Yemen to take over most of Abyan province and parts of neighbouring provinces. Ansar al sharia is their present nom de guerre.

December 31, 2011 In News

ESCALATING WARS OVER LUCRATIVE DRUG DEALING ‘TURFS’ ARE BEING BLAMED FOR A RISE IN SHOOTINGS ON MERSEYSIDE THIS YEAR

Still keeping an eye on my home city. Consequences of police success against the Whitney family in Anfield and Walton were always predictable. Growth of cannabis production not so predictable and must surely also reflect a growing market? The detective in the piece argues that production is small scale and controlled at arms length to keep the big guys from being imprisoned. He also says that gangs are trying to “tax” producers and dealers. Two other reasons for gun use are: producing in someone else’s area and “annoying” someone. there are three pages to the story. All worth reading

December 31, 2011 In News

GAME CHANGERS 2011

An oversight of the “Kingpin Strategy”…the killing or capturing of leading figures in organised crime in the Americas…and the bloody consequences: turf wars, displacement and neo-imperialism. there’s a report to download as a .pdf

I havent had a chance to read the whole report, but sharing it seems rather important.

SGOC | News