Thesis (MInternationalStudies)--University of South Australia, 2007.

Thesis (M.S. in National Security Affairs (Western Hemisphere))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Giraldo, Jeanne ; Bruneau, Thomas C. "June 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2009. DTIC Identifiers: Organized crime. Author(s) subject terms: El Salvador, Guatemala, organized crime, police reform, political party system, peace accords, gangs, drug trafficking organizations. Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-87). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Defense Analysis)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2010. / Thesis Advisor: Lee, Doowan. ; Second Reader: Berger, Marcos. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 16, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Terrorist networks, organized crime, illicit activities, money laundering, financial crimes, nation-state, exploit, infrastructures. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-50). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2007. / Title from title screen (viewed Feb. 19, 2008). Thesis Advisor(s): Looney, Robert. "September 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 77-83). Also available in print.

In this paper, I argue for a paradigm shift against general social groupings of organized criminal groups operating throughout the United States. Using Social Constructionism to drive a literature review conducted by way of Discourse Analysis, I spotlight ways in which broad characterizations of "organized crime" led to a mis-handling of gang issues today. Through relying on federally-originating definitions and characterizations, law enforcement and welfare agencies are unequipped for understanding the origins of and motives behind modern gangs and their agendas. The second half of this paper is a case study highlighting the different ways in which gangs may develop and operate despite, in the case of Chicago's Black Gangster Disciples Nation and its splinters, a shared history. If we are to reduce the hold these groups have over urban societies, we must first seek to understand each group individually, pulling out the root issues that drive their actions and how they identify as a form of modern organized crime, that is, "crime that is organized." / Master of Arts / In this paper, I argue for a reduced reliance on broad, all-encompassing definitions and groupings of organized crime / gangs. By creating these broad categories, government and law enforcement entities lack detailed understanding of the specific groups they deal with on a daily basis. Instead, I argue that all such criminal groups from mafia-style organizations to common street gangs be defined as organized crime, being “crime that is organized.” From this point, each group should be studied in depth as an individual group, with individual motives and roots, such that entities may determine specific causes and/or motivations driving how the group operations and what agenda they work to carry out. The second half of this work provides a case study of a Chicagobased gang and splinter groups that resulted from the gang’s demise. Had generalizations been drawn when studying the Black Gangster Disciples Nation and its splinters, the incredible differences in each splinter would have been missed and entities would further lack that which is necessary to isolate and combat the groups for what they are: unique organizations that pursue their own agendas as three very different groups despite identical histories.

published_or_final_version / Law / Master / Master of Laws

published_or_final_version / Urban Studies / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This study analyzes the activities of the organized crime groups involved in the drug business, as well as examining national and international efforts to control these groups. Specifically, this study addresses the following questions: How is organized crime connected to the international drug business?; What are the major transnational organized crime groups involved in the international drug business?; What is the nature of the drug problem as it relates to organized crime internationally?; What international cooperative law enforcement efforts currently exist to deal with organized crime and the drug business? Findings indicate that efforts to create an effective international law enforcement network are needed to meet the challenges of drug trafficking and globalized crime. To date, such efforts have largely been unsuccessful.

From the 1920s until the 1950s, brothers, Sam and Rosario Maceo, ran an influential crime family in Galveston, Texas. The brothers’ success was largely due to Galveston’s transient population, the turbulent history of the island, and the resulting economic decline experienced at the turn of the 20th century. Their success began during Prohibition, when they opened their first club. The establishment offered bootlegged liquor, fine dining, and first class entertainment. After Prohibition, the brothers continued to build an empire on the island through similar clubs, without much opposition from the locals. However, after being suspected of involvement in a drug smuggling ring, the Maceos were placed under scrutiny from outside law enforcement agencies. Through persistent investigations, the Texas Rangers finally shut down the rackets in Galveston in 1957. Despite their influence through the first half of the 20th century, on the island and off the island, their story is largely missing from the current literature.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Sociology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 204-214). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38762