Assess the impact of globalisation on patterns and types of crime.

Globalisation is the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of countries, people and events in a world in which communication, travel and connection are almost instantaneous, Cochraine and Pain argue drugs, crime, sex and the media all travel the globe. Globalisation has many advantages for individuals and countries however the dark side of globalisation includes new forms of crime such as sex and organ trafficking, cybercrime, terrorism and unprecedented growth in the drugs trade. Globalisation has facilitated the movement of people, goods and diffusion of cultures however simultaneously it has caused the globalisation of crime. Globalisation is the view that the world is a connected entity which also highlights the globe as a sole ecosystem, globalisation has caused an increase in green crime such as pollution and acid rain as it has been a catalyst for industrialisation for many LEDC’s. Globalisation has caused new types of crime and exacerbated classical crimes, crimes in all social strata with a large increase in white collar crime as the means to commit such crimes have been increased in an increasingly global world.

Globalisation has resulted in the new division of labour (Taylor) which regards TNC’s moving their industries to LEDC’s outside of the UK as labour is cheaper. This has caused a new type of crime and enhanced working class crime within Britain. Moving factories into LEDC’s is often intentionally done due to cheap labour and importantly more relaxed legislation over health and safety and the environment, in a bid to cut costs TNC’s commit what transgressive criminologists see as green crime. South argues green crime is twofold, primary green crime occurs from the new division of labour as increasing factories produce pollution and environmental harm whilst also committing secondary green crimes which involve the intentional neglect of legislation which is put in place to avoid ecological disasters. For example, Union Carbide neglected safety legislation which resulted in the leakage of toxic waste into water systems and the consequent death of residents in Bhopal. The movement of factories due to globalisation incurs primary and secondary green crimes but also creates more crime in the UK. Working class individuals in a globalised world now lack employment as manual labour has been moved abroad, this causes economic exclusion and relative deprivation which in turn can lead to increased criminality especially utilitarian crimes as individuals seek alternative routes to attain material goals. This could also indirectly cause an increase in crimes committed by men against women as often factory labourers were men who could exert their hegemonic masculinity (Messerschmidt) through work however with the new division of labour, males may seek power and masculinity through domestic violence as they are unable to do so within the workplace. Globalisation has caused a multitude of crimes both abroad and at home.

Globalisation has also caused the rise of shadow economies, alternative economies that exist alongside legal economies. These include drug, sex and organ trafficking, the drug industry has experienced unprecedented growth due to globalisation and now accounts for a $322billion industry. This shadow economy has a supply and demand factor, the supply comes from Latin American and Middle Eastern nations such as Colombia whilst the demand is growing and comes from the West, predominantly the US, the Western consumer culture has driven this shadow economy. Colombian peasants are reliant upon the cocaine trade as it provides 20% with a livelihood, it could be argued this illegal criminal avenue caused by globalisation allowing it to grow may actually reduce other forms of crime such as theft within peasant communities and they no longer experience absolute poverty. The drug industry is a big business and apparent in all corners of the world, most infamously in Mexico. Mexico’s drug industry has also resulted in other forms of crime as gangs and subcultures have grown into drug cartels which frequently include violence and is arguably a gateway for other forms of trafficking such as sex trafficking or “white slavery”. Globalisation has promoted a consumer culture worldwide, therefore both legal and illegal commodities whether it is drugs or people are bought and sold around the world in an organised manner, a new pattern of crime has been formed that is quickly spreading into all nations as the nature of globalisation is the oversight of national borders.

A particularly unique type of crime borne from globalisation is that of the Blood Diamond trade, a blood diamond is a diamond whose profits are used to fund rebel and militia activities against legitimate governments. Despite legalisation such as Kimberly’s process which prevents the selling of blood diamonds, this form of crime is still prevalent. Blood diamonds cultivated using African natural resources and often slave labour have been sold to Western markets for large profits which are then used to buy weapons which are used in a string of crimes such as violence, murder and torture. Globalisation has created a new accessible market for rebel groups as advancements in transportation and communication plus the neo-liberal influenced deregulation of markets have given way to a new form of crime which causes subsequent crimes. Whilst the demand is still high, blood diamond trading will continue to rise despite boycotts and legislation as a global world cannot be globally policed.

The common perception of globalisation is that of the rise of the internet as the two phenomenon’s coincided during the 90’s. Globalisation incorporates global communication and thus the internet which has created increased white collar crime and increased cybercrime. Cybercrime includes paedophilia, hacking, harassment, fraud and money laundering and is often associated with middle to upper class criminals. Cybercrime epitomises globalisation as it can target people thousands of miles away and there are no borders to this form of crime, victims range from individuals and children to governments and businesses. The internet offers next to absolute anonymity making it an increasingly difficult crime to tackle and attractive crime to commit. Cybercrime can be as harmful as drug trafficking as hacking can pose a threat to national security and paedophilia is unequivocally dangerous. With the spread of the web has come a new type of crime that is accessible to mainly those with the skill and knowledge to facilitate grandiose fraudulent crimes but is increasingly committed by poorer individuals in developing nations particularly India who have found profit in phishing scams suggesting this is not isolated to white collar criminals but like globalisation has spread incredibly fast amongst rich and poor.

Globalisation is argued by many sociologists especially hyper globalists to be a positive phenomenon bringing wealth, trade and global connections however as pessimistic globalists argue it has created new forms and patterns of crime which are arguably some of the most harmful and predatory crimes. Globalisation has opened up many new criminal avenues that are being fully explored for large profits, as Marxists may argue globalisation has caused the spread of capitalism and thus spread greed. If globalisation brings greed, speed and accessibility then it seems inevitable it will impact greatly on crime worldwide.