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Global Crime & Justice - SPY00083M

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

The aim of this module is to complement the other modules that constitute the theoretical and methodological foundation of the MA Global Crime and Justice (Policy Analysis - Crime and Justice; Introducing Social Research Methods). It provides teaching on global crime in theory and practice with the aim of making students understand the nature, evolution and significance of global criminal activities in today's world and, in particular, in relation to broader debates about justice in society.
The module introduces students to the idea and process of global crime from a socio-political perspective. The module provides an advanced theoretical understanding of global crime, as well as an analysis of diverse substantive forms of global crimes, ranging from drug and human trafficking to corporate and state crime. The core questions that students will answer in the course of this module are: What is global crime? What political and historical dynamics determine the evolution, nature and definition of global crimes and related state responses?

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will:

Subject content

  • understand competing theories of global crime and responses to it
  • understand the role of economic, social and political factors shaping global crimes
  • acquire a solid understanding of the criminal justice process on the global level, its main actors, methods and discourses
  • acquire in-depth knowledge of specialist areas of crime, such as drug trafficking and corporate crime


Academic and graduate skills

  • identify the complex issues surrounding the formation of global crime and related policies, as well as their implementation and evaluation
  • appreciate the institutional contexts shaping anti-crime policies


Other learning outcomes (if applicable)

  • Research and writing on abstract subject matters
  • Oral/written presentation skills and related techniques
  • Analysis of current socio-political affairs: newspaper analysis, information collection and exploitation
  • Use of information resources: electronic sources, library, newspapers, others

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Written feedback using a standard marking pro-forma is provided within 4 weeks of submission.

Indicative reading

P. Andreas and E. Nadelmann, Policing the Globe: Criminalization and Crime Control in International Relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006).

W. van Schendel and I. Abraham, Illicit Flows and Criminal Things: States, Borders, and the Other Side of Globalization (Bloomington: Indiana University Press: 2005).

J. Sheptycki (ed.), Transnational Organised Crime, 4 volumes (Los Angeles: Sage: 2014).

M. Findlay, The Globalisation of Crime: Understanding Transitional Relationships in Context (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1999).

J. Muncie, Crime: Local and Global (Cullompton: Willan 2010).

M. Natarajan, International Crime and Justice (New York: Cambridge University Press 2011).

D. Nelken, Comparative Criminal Justice and Globalization (Farnham: Ashgate 2011).

P. Reichel, Handbook of Transnational Crime and Justice (Los Angeles: Sage 2013).

UNODC, The Globalization of Crime: A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment (Vienna: UNODC 2010).

K. Aas, Globalisation and Crime (Los Angeles: Sage 2007).

E. Nadelmann, Cops Across Borders: The Internationalization of US Criminal Law Enforcement (PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1993).

M. Beare, Critical Reflections on Transnational Organized Crime, Money Laundering, and Corruption (Toronto: University of Toronto Press 2003).

United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (2000)

Global Crime (journal)



The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.