Suchergebnisse

The debate regarding the ideal response to organised crime is quickly evolving, although it remains often remarkably disconnected from the even more rapidly moving discussion on drugs. One important connection between these two debates is the application of a similar set of terminology – namely that of harm reduction. Harm reduction focuses on examining policy responses in ways which both highlight prevention and individual and community impacts, including the impact of law enforcement itself. If such a lens is applied to organised crime it is suggested that the three areas of focus should be: the reducing of violence; protecting political processes, and reducing impunity through high level and "symbolic" prosecutions.

The debate regarding the ideal response to organised crime is quickly evolving, although it remains often remarkably disconnected from the even more rapidly moving discussion on drugs. One important connection between these two debates is the application of a similar set of terminology – namely that of harm reduction. Harm reduction focuses on examining policy responses in ways which both highlight prevention and individual and community impacts, including the impact of law enforcement itself. If such a lens is applied to organised crime it is suggested that the three areas of focus should be: the reducing of violence; protecting political processes, and reducing impunity through high level and "symbolic" prosecutions.

ABSTRACTGuinea-Bissau has been regularly described as a 'narco-state'. Yet, few studies analyse how drug trafficking has evolved here. Based on extensive interviews in Guinea-Bissau over several years, this paper documents the process. It concludes that using the term 'narco-state', where much of the state has little or no capacity, is inappropriate. A better approach is to analyse the actions of key players as an elite protection network. In Guinea-Bissau, that network did not act on its own, but relied on a series of 'entrepreneurs' who operated as an interface between traffickers and the elite. While the military as an institution is often said to be in charge of trafficking, exclusive control by high-ranking military personnel within the elite network only occurred relatively late. Senior soldiers' attempts to provide more than just protection, and to enter the drug market themselves, led to the network's undoing.

"Das Thema Organisierte Kriminalität erfährt international eine neue Aufmerksamkeit. In vielen der vom Sicherheitsrat behandelten Krisen spielt die Organisierte Kriminalität eine große Rolle. Doch ohne Einigung auf einen Überwachungsmechanismus und ohne Evaluierung der Wirkung der UN-Konvention gegen die grenzüberschreitende Kriminalität, ist die Antwort der UN auf diese wachsende Gefahr nicht mehr ausreichend. Um nicht den Anschluss zu verlieren, müssen die Vereinten Nationen und ihre Sonderorganisationen eine kohärentere Strategie verfolgen und sich institutionell neu aufstellen." (Autorenreferat)