Suchergebnisse

From Damon Runyan's colorful tough guys in black shirts and white ties to recent media coverage of John Gotti, the `dapper don', public depictions of racketeers in the United States have drawn attention away from the true nature of organized crime and its extensive penetrations into mainstream business. The Upperworld and the Underworld: Case Studies of Racketeering and Business Infiltrations in the United States strips away the romantic patina and reveals the significant impact of racketeering on vital segments of American industry. In this informative study Robert Kelly explores two fundamental questions: `Why is organized crime a serious problem in some businesses and industries, and not in others?' and `What are the consequences of racketeering activities for labor organizations and businesses tainted by a criminal presence?' He examines the blurred demarcation between the legitimate and illegitimate sectors of society and explains the reasons for this occurrence. In the process, Kelly provides a distinct vantage point for understanding organized crime, not just as an `outlaw fringe' preying on society, but as a disturbingly integral element of our social and economic structure. Moreover, he confirms a widely held thesis that organized crime is not merely parasitic but an institutional component of American society. The Upperworld and the Underworld affords a fascinating view of the current state of organized crime in the United States and the rise of nontraditional criminal organizations in new immigrant communities. The volume is an essential resource for students and scholars concerned with issues of crime and its effects on the economy

Addresses the question of whether Islamic fundamentalism poses a terrorist threat to the US or inherently promotes terrorism. The ideology of Islamic fundamentalism is seen to be based on the argument that Westernization & modernization have failed, & the state, not the people, must govern. The lasting influence of the Ayatollah Khomeini & the Iranian Revolution, seen as minimized by the Western media, is discussed. It is argued that, because of its prominence & leadership, the US will inevitably incur hatred, particularly from armed prophets & extremists who view it as the custodian of Western values. The role of Western & Islamic misperceptions of each other as homogeneous cultures in engendering this hatred & hampering security measures is assessed. It is concluded that, before considering appropriate counterterrorist responses, the US must reevaluate its political commitments & alliances in terms of how they make the nation a target. T. Arnold