Terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime : implications of convergence; an international threat assessment including case studies and policy implications

226 Pages·2002·4.2 MB·English

by  Forbes, Sherry

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2010 with funding from
Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation
http://www.archive.org/details/terrorismdrugtraOOforb

Terrorism,DrugTrafficking,and Organized Crime: ImplicationsofConvergence
An International ThreatAssessmentincluding CaseStudiesandPolicyImplications
A SeniorHonorsThesis in the DepartmentofGovemment and International Affairs,
SweetBriarCollege
by
SheiTyForbes
DefendedandApproved 11 April 2002
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Vlichael Richards, SweetBriarCollege date
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tj^ABLE OFCONTENTS
I. Theory 1
II. Terrorism 12.
A. Introduction toCurrentConflicts 12.
B. ThreatsEmanatingfrom Religious/Ideological Conflicts 13.
C. Threats Emanatingfrom Ethno-Cultural Conflicts 20.
D. ConcludingPerspectives 27.
E. Impetus forCooperation 29.
III. OrganizedCrime 33.
A. Background 33.
B. Definition 35.
C. Setting 36.
D. Activities 40.
E. OrganizedCrime inTransition Countries 42.
F. ConcludingPerspectives 45.
G. Impetus forCooperation 47.
IV. The DrugCartels 51.
A. Background 51.
B. Setting 53.
C. Impetus forCooperation 59.
D. ConcludingPerspectives 63.
V. Cases ofParticularConcern 66.
A. Central andEastern Europe 66.
B. China,Taiwan, HongKong, andMacao 70.
C. The Middle East 75.
D. Mexico, Latin America, andtheCaribbean 76.
E. Colombia 79.
VI. TheChangingCharacterofSecurityChallenges 85.
A. Backgroundon the International PostureTowardTraditional Domestic
Security Issues 85.
B. The Conglomerates' Challenge to International Security 92.
Endnotes 99.
Works Cited 105.

Forbes 1
t^HEORY
I.
Globalization as its own phenomenon has affected world affairs as never before.
Economies are becoming increasingly intertwined, governments are cooperating on an
unprecedented scale, and goods and services are becoming cheaper, better, faster, and more
abundant. However, as globalization yields these benefits, it is simultaneously facilitating an
increase in types ofcooperation ofwhich the general public is largely unaware. The entities and
institutions that we see everyday - governments, business and industry, and financial markets,
just to name afew -are not the onlyones takingadvantage ofglobalization's benefits.
Out of the public eye and historically characterized by secrecy, certain illicit groups are
using globalization's interconnectedness to their advantage. We have seen the globalization of
markets, but we are only now beginning to see the globalization of the underground. As the
underground is similarly intertwined in the globalized society, its operations too are increasingly
crossing borders and advancing into new territory. As such, illicit groups are coming to see
cooperation among themselves as essential to their continued existence in this internationally
interconnected world.
Increased communication and transportation resulting from globalization, for example,
have eased rapport between terrorist groups, organized criminal syndicates, and drug cartels.
The accessibility of 21" century technology has afforded the underground the opportunity to
better conceal their activities, while the rapid unregulated internationalization of financial
markets has given way to conditions that allow them to more easily launder their profits and
finance theiractivities. Coordination andcooperation between these groups have been advanced
through these developments. Make no mistake - the underground exploits the modem