Assessing militarised responses to transnational organised crime

Abstract

Organised crime continues to plague society. Although we know much more about it, how it functions, who is involved and why it persists, we are still no closer towards eradicating it. Policymakers are beginning to understand that any response needs to be multifaceted, dynamic and persistent; however, they continue to search for an elusive silver bullet. Despite the growing diversity of our organised crime-response toolbox, military solutions continue to be widely prioritised. Perhaps it is the quick wins, the direct pursuit of criminals or the outright show of force that creates the impression that action is being taken. Nevertheless, these responses are not always the most suitable.