Globalization and Transnational Organised Crime

With the pace of globalization increasing tremendously, just like its benefits, its side-effects are also increasing at a tremendous manner. People can advocate the advantages of globalization for a long period of time but what we are failing to address is the disadvantages that are produced by globalization.  Based on the platform on which globalization is claiming such a large success, the perpetrator are using the same platform to develop an illicit system and thus putting a threat to the advantages of globalization. Many factors that have helped prosper globalization have been used to organize cross-border crime which has been creating a trouble for the preachers of globalized world.

The two major aspects of Globalization process that promotes transnational organized crime are :

1)      Electronic and physical connectivity:

Internet at the present time has been bloodline for the globalization to speed up. Internet has facilitated the globalization process via enabling easy and rapid connectivity. It has completely changed the whole communication industry and has a wide influence in the lifestyle of the people. Besides, it has also been developed as a platform to facilitate business and also perform business online. Because of the vital role that internet has played at the current time, it has often been recognized as nervous system of globalization. Though internet has facilitated the globalization process, people are also misusing it to commit various types of crimes. For example: Cybercrimes, child pornography, etc. has been increasing via use of electronic media and internet. Other crime like hacking of bank accounts, credit cards details, identity theft etc. has been more enabled because of the use of modern tool that has facilitated the globalization process.

Also rapid progress in the physical connectivity has also facilitated the cross national organized crime. Though the rapid means of transportation like bullet trains, airplane, ships etc have increased the transportation and trading of goods across borders, it has also at the same time, facilitated cross-national crimes. Because of modern means of transportation that has improved connectivity, people with criminal mindset can move from one place to another very easily, within fractions of hours. Free flow mechanism facilitation across borders has facilitated illegal activities like: transportation of drugs, human trafficking, prostitution, etc. Similarly crimes like trafficking of women for marriage purpose, modern day slavery in sweatshops, etc has also increased at an alarming rate. Beside these, unregulated maritime network has helped many criminals and terrorist groups to carry out illegal activities in an easy way.

2)      Increased inequalities and disparities:

Globalization has not only brought prosperity to some part of the world, but it has also increased disparity among the people of the globalized world. Differences between haves and have-not have increased like never before. For example, the difference between haves and have-not has been said to be highest in the last 100 years. Also because of increasing inequalities poor segments of the society have become vulnerable to the more globalized world. The condition of women and children has become more vulnerable. Similarly poor status of women, low-level skills of the employees, unsafe working condition, etc. have made the situation worse for the people of such segment.

Conclusion:

The basic problem with the economic system created/promoted by Globalization is that it has facilitated for the rich to become more rich and poor to become poorer. Rich people are thus prompted to do anything that they find is worth doing for their personal benefit, or for the accumulation of wealth. Besides, poor section of population doesn’t have any option but to become desperate and search for brighter opportunities. But these vulnerable sections of the society are always out into demerit and thus suffer.



This write-up is based on my learning via MOOC course: Age of Globalization.