Complex interactions of economic, technological, political, and cultural factors have fed the rise of criminal networks worldwide. At the same time, global illegal activities depend on a world of social realities to function. Organized Crime moves beyond traditional concepts of "evil forces" corrupting their host societies, instead analyzing local, national, and international manifestations of organized crime in the situational contexts that aid in its development.

"The term "global organized crime" is often used to refer to worldwide illegitimate activities of criminal groups and networks and is associated with the so-called "globalization process". Although it can not be denied that due to economic, technological, political and cultural developments, borders have disappeared or changed, markets have extended, mobility and communication facilities have improved, it would be a major fallacy to study organized crime and its containment solely from a global perspective. The central premise of this book is that we need more in-depth, empirically funded, knowledge on organized crime in specific situational contexts, rather than trying to predict how organized crime might develop throughout the world.The fifteen contributions in the book deal with various aspects of organized crime (drugs, diamonds, human trafficking, eco-crime, conflict resolution, underground banking, crime facilitators) in various parts of the world (Sicily, Sinai, the US, Quebec, Amsterdam, Antwerp, tropical rain forests in Africa and Asia and so on). Distinguished scholars pay attention to historical and contemporary manifestations of organized crime, the symbiotic relationship between legitimate and illegitimate activities, and innovative, dual strategies that have been developed to contain and prevent these serious forms of crime. They explore different theoretical arguments from the perspective of their own disciplines, which include sociology, criminology, political science and anthropology."

Criminal Groups and Activities.- Reflections on the Sicilian Mafia: Peripheries and Their Impact on Centres.- The Decline of the Italian Mafia.- Hashish Smuggling by Bedouin in South Sinai.- Corruption as a Causal Factor in Human Trafficking.- New Players in an Old Game: The Sex Market in Italy.- The Vehicle Theft Market in Bulgaria.- Diamonds and Organized Crime:The Case of Antwerp.- Eco-Crime: The Tropical Timber Trade.- The Role of Hawala Bankers in the Transfer of Proceeds from Organised Crime.- Facilitating Organized Crime: The Role of Lawyers and Notaries.- Law Enforcement.- Criminal Conflicts and Collective Violence: Biker-Related Account Settlements in Quebec, 1994-2001.- Controlling Human Smuggling in the Netherlands: How the Smuggling of Human Beings Was Transformed into a Serious Criminal Offence.- The Civil RICO Law as the Decisive Weapon in Combating Labour Racketeering.- Recent Anti-Mafi a Strategies: The Italian Experience.- Breaking the Power of Organized Crime? The Administrative Approach in Amsterdam.