Globalization and growing economic interdependence, that have for so long been regarded as pacifying and stabilizing factors of financial transactions and international relations, have strongly encouraged, the transformation of organised and serious crime, over the last 30 years, beyond borders, places and people and, in some cases, even, identifiable victims. Improved communication networks and information technologies, have increasingly blurred national borders, improved the mobility of people, goods and services across countries, and have consolidated the globalized economy. These have all acted as facilitators, enabling the more traditional forms of organized and serious crime to go beyond their supposed local dimension and conventional explanations. Thus, the dialectics between local and global has emerged as a distinctive aspect of contemporary forms of crime.
The ECPR standing group on organised crime’s first general conference aims to explore the characteristics, resources, strategies and modus operandi adopted by traditional and new emerging criminal organizations operating both at local and global level, with a view to presenting both theoretical and empirical studies as well as making contributions to policy developments. Scholars and researchers, civil servants as well as practitioners are all encouraged to submit relevant papers in order to forge a three-way discussion that moves beyond traditional academic debates.
Panels and papers addressing a wide array of topics are most welcome, they could include:
- The grey area: the relationships existing between criminal networks and ‘legal’ actors especially as far as the infiltration in the political and economic contexts is concerned;
- The symbolic dimension of organised crime groups and their communication strategies;
- Illicit trafficking across the Mediterranean;
- Social economy as an antidote to criminal power. The national and international experience in freezing, forfeiture and the social reuse of assets confiscated from organised crime;
- Women in organised crime and terrorist networks;
- Analysing criminal mobility;
- Methods for studying organised crime;
- Perceptions, reality and fact of organised crime;
- International and European cooperation in the fight against organised crime;
- The crime-terror nexus and its relevance for security.
Notes for Panel organisers and paper givers
Authors are invited to submit their abstracts either for panels or for a single paper. All contributions will be in English.
Panel proposals should include: title, rational, from 3 to 4 papers, a chair and a discussant. Paper givers are invited to submit an abstract that should not exceed 300 words. Each panel will last 1.30 hours. Normally sessions will include from 3 to 4 papers, a chair and a discussant. Each presentation will last 15 minutes.
Abstracts must be submitted to [email protected] before 19 June 2015. The letter of notification will be sent by 17 July 2015 and registration for the conference will close on 13 of November 2015.
For further information please contact the Organising Committee at
[email protected]
Event fees
Conference fees include participation and lunches/coffee breaks. ECPR Members £60
ECPR Student Members £50*
Non-ECPR Members £80
Non-ECPR Student £70*
Please note that all participants wishing to attend must pay a conference fee.
*Students must send a copy of their student card or a letter from the Head of Department where they are enrolled to the Conference team by 10 October 2015 in order to pay a reduced conference fee.
Cancellation policy
In line with the Office of Fair Trading and EU Distance Selling regulations, there is a 7 day cooling off period following registration during which time you have the right to cancel and receive a full refund of the Conference fee. Cancellation/withdrawal from the event after the 7 day cooling off period and before midnight Brussel time 18 November 2015 will receive a refund of 50%.Cancellation/withdrawals received after the 7 day cooling off period and after 18 November will not be eligible for a refund.
Organising Committee
Felia Allum (University of Bath, UK), Francesca Longo (University of Catania, Italy) Daniela Irrera (University of Catania, Italy), Monica Massari (University of Naples, Federico II, Italy), Michele Mosca ((University of Naples, Federico II, Italy), Luciano Brancaccio (University of Naples, Federico II, Italy), Anna Sergi (University of West London, UK).