Assessing the Threat of Nexus Between Organized Crime and Democratic Politics： Mapping the Factors

In recent years, increased attention from the media, the international community and policy makers has highlighted the destabilizing effects criminal networks have on the legitimacy of democratic politics, as well as the capacity of democratic systems to deliver basic services. Indeed, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development highlighted in 2014 how illicit financial flows drain the state from resources needed to provide basic services （OECD, 2014）. While this problem affects not only developing and fragile states, these countries are particularly affected as this phenomenon tends to exacerbate inequality （Briscoe, Perdomo ＆ Uribe Burcher, 2014）. Mapping the factors that make politics vulnerable to the influence of organized crime is a key element in the effort to implement adequate strategies to prevent and mitigate this phenomenon. This paper explores 21 threat factors identified, understood as some of the conditions that may contribute to the likelihood that political corruption linked to organized crime takes place. These threat factors underline institutional weaknesses--including those related to illicit political fmance---and organized crime activities, which create opportunities for illicit networks to penetrate democratic political systems. The paper also discusses how these institutional weaknesses interrelate to specific criminal markets and networks. The paper draws from extensive desk research in 2015, which complements previous desk and field research on the same topic carded out in 2011-2014 in the Baltic States, Latin America and West Africa.

Organized Crime＇s Engagement in Democratic Politics： Strategies for Prevention and Mitigation

Criminal networks erode the legitimacy of democratic politics, affecting regions as diverse as Latin America （Briscoe, Perdomo, ＆ Uribe Burcher, 2014）, the Baltic States （Villaveces-Izquierdo ＆ Uribe Burcher, 2013）, and West Africa （Aning ＆ Edu-Afful, 2013a; 2013b）. Contemporary research on this topic describes various factors that might increase the vulnerability of political actors, institutions, and processes to organized crime （Uribe Burcher, 2017）. In addition, there is a need to identify strategies to strengthen those political actors, institutions, and processes, making them resilient against criminal influence. Drawing from extensive field research conducted in Latin America, Africa, and West Asia in 2015-2016 （Perdomo ＆ Uribe Burcher, 2016; Hunter ＆ Reitano, 2016; Briscoe ＆ Goff, 2016a; 2016b）, as well as additional desk research conducted during the same period, this paper maps a set of 28 actions that may increase these institutions＇ and actors＇ resilience to the influence of organized crime networks based on documented global experiences implementing such measures. The paper also reflects some of the findings from a pilot experience to assess the threat of nexus between organized crime in democratic politics in Peru conducted in 2015-2016, which used some of the proposed action points to build a prevention and mitigation plan.

ssues of Human Beings Trafficking in Albania

The theme of trafficking of human beings treats one of the most severe and dangerous criminal phenomena of the organized crime in Albania. The objects of this paper are： human trafficking; ways of trafficking; risk of Albanian society; and investment of the criminal benefits deriving from trafficking in legal economic activities, it is of great importance for the treatment of proactive investigations to the trafficking of human beings. Another important aspect of the trafficking investigations is the investigation of criminal assets and the way how they are used in the economy of the country. In this paper, we stress that the investigation of criminal assets benefited by the crime of trafficking human beings as well as other wealth financed by these assets is important as the investigation of the criminal activity of trafficking itself. Also, we aim to evaluate the necessity of acting of all law enforcement agencies and other state institutions in order to be successful in the fight against the crime of trafficking of human beings. At the end of this paper, we do treat the necessity and the ways of collaboration of law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and structures of local government for rehabilitation of the victims of trafficking and their integration in the social life.

Human Smuggling and the International Sex Trade： An Evaluation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act

The United States Congress set a benchmark in US anti-human trafficking policy with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 （TVPA 2000J. The TVPA 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations in 2003, 2005, and 2008 were put forth to increase the scope, focus, and effectiveness of US efforts to combat human trafficking. In-depth analyses of each reauthorization provide an understanding of the aims of the TVPA. The evolution of the TVPA reauthorizations dearly demonstrates that the US is committed to thwarting human trafficking both domestically and internationally. The analyses examine strengths and weaknesses of the legislation and provide insight as to how the TVPA reached its current state as the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 （TVPRA 2008）. Drawing from the evolution of TVPA legislation, the future of the human trafficking phenomenon and legislation is discussed.