- First extensive study of criminal networks
- The case study designs and analytical paths are straightforward and can serve as a source for future research endeavours using a variety of data sources
Buy this book
- About this book
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What do an illegal drug importer, a stolen car exporter, a Hells Angels member, an accountant, and an airplane hijacker have in common? Like most people, they all operate in social networks—and at times, they come together in criminal networks which, though tightly structured and controlled, undergo constant change. Inside Criminal Networks takes a social network perspective to a variety of illegal enterprises, focusing on these organizations’ "flexible order" and the collective coping and adjustment strategies of offenders when key members or opportunities are lost.
Rich with communication data, electronic surveillance material, and other law-enforcement investigative sources, case studies pursue a number of analytical paths into the partnerships, pecking orders, and situations in flux (e.g., street gang presence within drug distribution), and identify central challenges to research (e.g., are these failed networks if members are arrested?). Flexibility is revealed as a driving force as the book examines:
- Operational structures and dynamics.
- Roles of key and peripheral players.
- The tentative balance between efficiency and security.
- Criminal network positions and individual traits.
- Uses of legitimate actors in illegal settings.
- Adaptation when networks are disrupted.
Compellingly written and meticulously presented, Inside Criminal Networks offers rare up-close insights to readers in the criminology and organized crime research fields, and to social network theorists and analysts.
- About the authors
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Author: Carlo Morselli (Assistant Professor at the School of Criminology, Université de Montréal)
- Table of contents (10 chapters)
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The Criminal Network Perspective
Pages 1-21
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Case Study Sources and Designs
Pages 1-28
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Partnership Configurations in Illegal Drug-Importation
Pages 1-11
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The Efficiency–Security Trade-Off
Pages 1-9
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Legitimate Strengths in Criminal Networks
Pages 1-12
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Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Bibliographic Information
- Bibliographic Information
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- Book Title
- Inside Criminal Networks
- Authors
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- Carlo Morselli
- Series Title
- Studies of Organized Crime
- Series Volume
- 8
- Copyright
- 2009
- Publisher
- Springer-Verlag New York
- Copyright Holder
- Springer-Verlag New York
- eBook ISBN
- 978-0-387-09526-4
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-0-387-09526-4
- Hardcover ISBN
- 978-0-387-09525-7
- Softcover ISBN
- 978-1-4419-1861-1
- Series ISSN
- 1571-5493
- Edition Number
- 1
- Number of Pages
- XII, 204
- Number of Illustrations
- 32 b/w illustrations
- Topics