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Social Dimensions of Organised Crime

Modelling the Dynamics of Extortion Rackets

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Editors:
  1. Corinna Elsenbroich

    1. Department of Sociology, Centre for Research in Social Simulation, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

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  2. David Anzola

    1. Department of Sociology, Centre for Research in Social Simulation, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

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  3. Nigel Gilbert

    1. Department of Sociology, Centre for Research in Social Simulation, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

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  • Analyses extortion rackets as a global and dynamic phenomenon
  • Applies computational social science methodologies to the substantive area of extortion rackets
  • Integrates data driven and participatory/stakeholder driven modelling on the substantive area
  • Serves as a case study of empirically focused agent based modeling
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Computational Social Sciences (CSS)

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
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  2. Introduction

    • Corinna Elsenbroich, David Anzola, Nigel Gilbert
    Pages 1-6

  3. Extortion Rackets as a Global Phenomenon

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 7-7
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    2. National Mafia-Type Organisations: Local Threat, Global Reach

      • David Anzola, Martin Neumann, Michael Möhring, Klaus G. Troitzsch
      Pages 9-23

    3. Basic Dynamics of Extortion Racketeering

      • David Anzola
      Pages 25-46

  4. Society and the State

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 47-47
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    2. Social Norms and Extortion Rackets

      • Áron Székely, Giulia Andrighetto, Luis G. Nardin
      Pages 49-64

    3. Legal Norms Against the Italian Mafia

      • Vincenzo Militello
      Pages 65-81

  5. Extortion Rackets in Society

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 83-83
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    2. Mafia Methods, Extortion Dynamics and Social Responses

      • Antonio La Spina, Vincenzo Militello, Giovanni Frazzica, Valentina Punzo, Attilio Scaglione
      Pages 85-104

    3. An Agent-Based Model of Extortion Racketeering

      • Luis G. Nardin, Giulia Andrighetto, Áron Székely, Valentina Punzo, Rosaria Conte
      Pages 105-116

    4. Extortion Rackets: An Event-Oriented Model of Interventions

      • Klaus G. Troitzsch
      Pages 117-131

    5. Survey Data and Computational Qualitative Analysis

      • Klaus G. Troitzsch
      Pages 133-151

  6. The Criminal Organisation

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 153-153
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    2. Text Data and Computational Qualitative Analysis

      • Martin Neumann, Ulf Lotzmann
      Pages 155-176

    3. A Simulation Model of Intra-organisational Conflict Regulation in the Crime World

      • Ulf Lotzmann, Martin Neumann
      Pages 177-213

  7. Synthesis and Conclusion

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 215-215
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    2. Calibration and Validation

      • Klaus G. Troitzsch, Luis G. Nardin, Giulia Andrighetto, Áron Székely, Valentina Punzo, Rosaria Conte et al.
      Pages 217-239

    3. Conclusion

      • Corinna Elsenbroich, David Anzola, Nigel Gilbert
      Pages 241-244

  8. Back Matter

    Pages 245-247
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Keywords

About this book

This book presents a multi-disciplinary investigation into extortion rackets with a particular focus on the structures of criminal organisations and their collapse, societal processes in which extortion rackets strive and fail and the impacts of bottom-up and top-down ways of fighting extortion racketeering. Through integrating a range of disciplines and methods the book provides an extensive case study of empirically based computational social science. It is based on a wealth of qualitative data regarding multiple extortion rackets, such as the Sicilian Mafia, an international money laundering organisation and a predatory extortion case in Germany. Computational methods are used for data analysis, to help in operationalising data for use in agent-based models and to explore structures and dynamics of extortion racketeering through simulations. In addition to textual data sources, stakeholders and experts are extensively involved, providing narratives for analysis and qualitative validation of models. The book presents a systematic application of computational social science methods to the substantive area of extortion racketeering. The reader will gain a deep understanding of extortion rackets, in particular their entrenchment in society and processes supporting and undermining extortion rackets. Also covered are computational social science methods, in particular computationally assisted text analysis and agent-based modelling, and the integration of empirical, theoretical and computational social science.

Reviews

“This work is one of many in the unfolding field of computational social science that not only analyzes data, but additionally runs simulations and develops databased models to understand current and future environments. As such it is a valuable study not only for the specific subject matter, but also for the potentially broad application of the techniques employed. … This research is a noteworthy contribution to the emerging multidisciplinary and computationally aided social sciences.” (Computing Reviews, October, 2017)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Department of Sociology, Centre for Research in Social Simulation, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

    Corinna Elsenbroich, David Anzola, Nigel Gilbert

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