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Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


PL50663: Organised crime in Europe: threats and challenges

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 2
Click here for further information Assessment: CW 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites:
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
The units aims:
* To identify the main theoretical concepts adopted to analyse organised crime.
* To study the ways in which these issues constitute a challenge to the idea of the nation-state and democracy.
* To explore the extent to which these topics represent new and non-traditional security threats.

Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this unit, students will be familiar with:
* A detailed/empirical understanding of organised crime in Europe
* The critical/analytical approach to the major issues raised by organised crime.
* The theoretical debates associated with organised crime and its relationship with politics.
* The ways in which organised crime challenges democracy (politics, economics and civil society)
* The security implications of organised crime for the EU.

Skills:
The key skills the unit will hone and further develop are:
* Advanced research skills in identifying, locating and exploiting a wide range of descriptive, evaluative and theoretical literature.
* Intellectual skills of conceptual, original and independent thinking, critical analysis, synthesis and reasoned argument.
* Skills of assessment and judgement in relation to the soundness of competing arguments and scenarios, including the reporting and assessing of qualitative and quantitative data.
* Generic and transferable skills related to the oral and written presentation of ideas.
* Skills of self-direction, self-evaluation and time management.

Content:
1. Defining organised crime
2. Explaining organised crime
3. Organised crime and civil society
4. Organised crime and the economy
5. Organised crime and its relationship with politics I
6. Italian organised crime in Europe
7. Non-traditional organised crime
8. Organised crime and its relationship with politics II
9. The fight against organised crime
10. Organised crime: challenging democracy.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

PL50663 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • THPL-AFM11 : MA Contemporary European Politics (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM16 : MA Contemporary European Studies: Politics Policy and Society (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM17 : MA Contemporary European Studies (with transatlantic track) (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM14 : MA International Politics (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFM15 : MA International Security (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFL11 : PG Dip Contemporary European Politics (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFL14 : PG Dip International Politics (Full-time)
  • THPL-AFL16 : PG Dip International Security (Full-time)

PL50663 is available for Auditing on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.