Measuring (Transnational) Organized Crime as an Indicator of Global Justice

Organized crime impacts on societies, and it is one of the main threats to global justice. Assessment of the presence and activities of organized crime is therefore crucial for the design of effective policies and actions. Several methodological approaches have been proposed to address the two main challenges implied by this effort: (1) the complexity of defining what organized crime is; and (2) the collection and generation of reliable data to estimate it. Moreover, organized crime groups increasingly engage in illicit activities that extend beyond their traditional territories and the borders of a single state. This expansion is facilitated by the ever-growing economic and social connections among people and countries. This poses serious threats to countries and their citizens by generating direct and indirect economic damage, affecting social structures, and hindering the development and stability of states. This paper discusses the latest methodological advances in measurement of OC within a country or a region. It then describes a strategy for assessing OC presence based on the estimation of the transnational illicit markets and the role of countries in those illicit networks. Examples from the current research studies are provided.