Organized crime is a type of crime that typically involves a group or organization, often with links to international or national networks. Common activities of organized crime groups are smuggling, racketeering, drug trafficking, money laundering, fraud and extortion.

 

 

Sociology provides an important tool for exploring organized crime. For example, the concept of anomie developed by Emile Durkheim can help explain how some individuals become involved in organized crime in order to satisfy their needs and desires. When an individual is unbound from their social group or society, they may become more susceptible to crime and seek out activities that provide them with more socially acceptable fulfilment. Similarly, Edward Sutherland’s theory of differential association looks at how people learn crime by associating and spending time with other criminals. Through this theory, we can understand why some become involved in organized crimes, as the environment they are exposed to provides the criminal activities and beliefs that lead to their involvement.

 

Another sociologicaltheory, Routine Activity Theory (RAT), looks at the combination of crime opportunities and criminal motivation steps to explain why crimes are committed. For example, in the case of motor vehicle theft, RAT suggests that offenders may be motivated to commit the crime if there is an opportunity to do so, as well as a suitable target and lack of capable guardians. These conditions of successful criminal activity can be provided by an environment within which organized criminal activities are conducted, such as a gang or organized crime network. Similarly, Social Disorganization Theory (SDT) looks at how crime is commited in areas of social disorganization, such as those deprived of essential government services, income, education and housing. Finally, Structural Strain Theory (SST) looks at how individuals who feel trapped by their social environment (structural strain) can take part in criminal activities like organized crime in order to find a way “out”.

 

In conclusion, organized crime can be explained by aspects of sociology such as Structural Strain Theory, Social Disorganization Theory, and Routine Activity Theory. These theories all look at how the environment and the individuals within it interact to create the conditions for crime. Offenders of organized crime can come from a variety of backgrounds, but all are likely to be motivated by the desire to satisfy their needs.

 

Works Cited

David Harvey.  Social Justice and the City, 1973.

Robert Park and Ernest Burgess. The City, 1925.

Emile Durkheim. Division of Labor in Society, 1893.

Karl Marx. The Communist Manifesto, 1848.