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The Unholy Trinity: Transnational Crime, Corruption, and Terrorism

By Louise Shelley

In this paper Louise Shelley uses empirical research methods to analyse the nexus between transnational crime, corruption and terrorism. Regions analysed include Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe and the United States. The majority of other research has focused on the connection between transnational crime groups and corruption and this connection is becoming more understood and accepted. However, the connection between terrorist groups and corruption is much less accepted or understood and this paper sheds some light on this important relationship. 
 
The paper’s analysis also differs from other research in that it divides transnational crime groups into old and new and discusses how this affects their relationship with corrupt governments and or terrorists groups.  It finds that old transnational crime groups (e.g. in Japan) have long-term financial interests that encourage the safeguarding of state institutions.  By corrupting these state institutions, these crime groups maintain long-term self-preservation.  These groups tend to “…contribute to political campaigns, run candidates for office, or vote as a bloc to influence the electoral process…”  Additionally, they tend to be highly nationalistic, profit greatly from state contracts, encourage economic development, grow with the state to siphon profits, and reject terrorism.

Conversely, it finds that new transnational crime groups (e.g. in Afghanistan) do not profit by corrupting state institutions, i.e., they do not profit from state contracts or launder money through financial institutions.  These groups tend to act like, interact with, and seek out terrorists groups.  Additionally, they tend to prosper by creating unstable governments, chaos, war, and conflict; target porous borders and connect with corrupt law enforcement that are out of the reach of the state; and depend on systemic corruption.
 
The results have two main policy implications.  First, policy-makers need to understand there is a difference between new and old transnational crime groups.  They must understand the ways in which both encourage corruption, and the motives behind that corruption, if they plan to reduce transnational crime, corruption, and terrorism.  Second, policy-makers must broaden their focus on terrorism to include its connection with corruption and transnational crime groups (especially the new groups that act similarly to terrorist groups).  

Source: Anti-Corruption Research Network

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