2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LAW5386M Globalisation and Crime

15 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Professor Graham Farrell
Email: G.Farrell@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Module replaces

LAW5385 Transnational Crime

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

This course will introduce students to how socio-economic, political and technological changes relating to globalization impact upon crime at different levels from the local to transnational. International crime trends include rapid crime increases in many countries from the 1950s to 1990s and the subsequent global crime. In addition, aspects of the transnational flow of illegal goods and services from illicit drugs to human beings as well as international terrorism, have become increasingly prominent in recent decades. Processes relating to globalization - particularly international economic integration, political and technological developments including transportation and communications - have been tremendously influential. They affect consumer goods markets and the prices of illicit goods and services as well as our lifestyles– the latter regularly framed as cultural change – all of which falls within the routine activities theoretical framework. Such changes often greatly facilitate crime at all units of geographical analysis. The implications for security, policing and prevention more generally are diverse and need to be tailored to individual types of crime and their context.

Objectives

- To introduce students to perspectives and issues in international, comparative, and transnational crime and its prevention;
- to provide students with a theoretical framework, that of the routine activities perspective, to understand how socio-economic, political and technological change affect crime;
- to examine the role of the opportunity structure in crimes from the local to the national and transnational;
- to provide students with the analytic skills to critically examine individual crime types and identify the role of crime opportunity reduction in their prevention.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will have:
- systematic understanding of theoretical concepts in particular in relation to globalisation;
- systematic understanding and critical awareness of transnational crime and its local manifestations;
- comprehensive and critical understanding of international and comparative dates on globalisation and crime;
- conceptual understanding to critically evaluate research and advanced scholarship on the impact of globalisation on crime;
- comprehensive understanding of various instruments to prevent and combat transnational crime.

Skills outcomes
- Apply both new and existing knowledge and understanding of both global and local dynamics of transnational crime;
- Critically evaluate relevant explanatory criminological concepts, assess their suitability for the analysis of transnational crime;
- Advanced knowledge and understanding and usage of international and national data, and data sources to make critical assessments of the reliability anf validity of risks, revenues and scope of transnational crime;
- Communicate information and critically reflect upon a range of materials, including case studies, databases, website and theoretical work, bot verbally and in writing.

Syllabus

Introduction
Globalisation and routine activity theory
Key areas of globalisation and crime
Terrorism and situational prevention
The international crime drop
Workshop for assigned essays

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	5	3.00	15.00
Private study hours			135.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Private study time 135 hours. Students will be instructed to read, make themselves familiar with databases and websites, relevant organisations, etc. They will be instructed to prepare a presentation on a case study of a specific crime/criminal actor/country on which they will base their assessments, and they will prepare and write their essay.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Registers of attendance will be taken and absences dealt with through normal School channels.

Students are asked to volunteer for slots as Presenter and Discussants for seminars 2-4. This allows confident/experienced students to go first and others to watch and learn. Likewise, with the seminar discussions, there is variation in participation across students. A key aim of the facilitator is to encourage all students to participate and create a positive atmosphere in which they develop.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 3,000-word essay	75.00
Tutorial Performance	Oral and written contribution	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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