Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I International Criminology
- Part II Law, Punishment, and Crime Control Philosophies of the World
- Part III Transnational Crime
- Part IV Organized Crime and Terrorism
- 30 Transnational Organized Crime
- 31 The Rise of Balkan Organized Crime
- 32 Russian Organized Crime
- 33 The Italian Mafia
- 34 Extortion and Organized Crime
- 35 Organized Crime in Asia
- 36 Drug Cartels
- 37 The International Implications of Domestic Terrorism in the United States
- 38 Terrorism
- Part V International crime
- Part VI Delivering International Justice
- Part VII International Cooperation and Criminal Justice
- Part VIII International Research and Crime Statistics
- Part IX International research resources
- World Map
- Index
- References
34 - Extortion and Organized Crime
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 October 2014
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- List of Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I International Criminology
- Part II Law, Punishment, and Crime Control Philosophies of the World
- Part III Transnational Crime
- Part IV Organized Crime and Terrorism
- 30 Transnational Organized Crime
- 31 The Rise of Balkan Organized Crime
- 32 Russian Organized Crime
- 33 The Italian Mafia
- 34 Extortion and Organized Crime
- 35 Organized Crime in Asia
- 36 Drug Cartels
- 37 The International Implications of Domestic Terrorism in the United States
- 38 Terrorism
- Part V International crime
- Part VI Delivering International Justice
- Part VII International Cooperation and Criminal Justice
- Part VIII International Research and Crime Statistics
- Part IX International research resources
- World Map
- Index
- References
Summary
INTRODUCTION
Extortion is “the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right” (The United States Code 18 U.S.C. § 1951(b)(2)). The legal definitions of extortion in other countries are similar to the US. definition.
When extortion is committed on a regular basis, it turns into racketeering: “an institutionalized practice whereby tribute is collected on behalf of a criminal group that, in exchange, claims to offer […] protection” (Volkov, 2002: 1).
This chapter deals with extortion, racketeering, and organized crime in Europe. The overall argument is that market opportunities for extortion driven by lack of trust in market dynamics and variations in the characteristics of organized criminal groups may give rise to two different types of extortion racketeering: systemic and casual. Extortion racketeering is systemic when it is deeply rooted and extends across a territory since it is a core part of organized crime groups’ activities. Extortion racketeering is casual when it is not extended across a territory since criminal organizations do not routinely engage in such a criminal activity. These types of extortion racketeering are shaped by four interrelated variables: 1. market opportunities; 2. the organizational structure of criminal groups; 3. their presence at local level and 4. the victim/ofender relationship.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- International Crime and Justice , pp. 261 - 267Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
References
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