Transnational Organized Crime

A Truly Monumental Contribution!

This four-volume compilation of major works on organized and transnational organized crime  (which represent criminological thinking over a span of five decades) is a superb contribution by a scholar who has himself produced an important body works on the subject. Acknowledging his bias towards critical theory and empirical research, James Sheptycki astutely avoids the tunnel vision that might arise from his perspective by adopting a broad interdisciplinary approach in selecting and arranging materials. As a result, readers will be taken to an exciting intellectual journey, which starts with historical perspectives in Volume 1; considers a large body of literature on the two contrasting views (namely, constructionist and critical perspectives) in Volume 2; looks at realist approaches in Volume 3; and ends with an examination of the role of the state in shaping opportunity structures for transnational organized crime in Volume 4.  Each volume has an original and substantial introduction by the editor, which masterfully highlights main points of selected works and includes additional references to other major works on the subject which could not be included in the collection. This compilation is an indispensable resource for research and education on transnational organized crime. 

Put together by one of the finest criminological scholars of our time, Professor James Sheptycki’s impressive collection of influential essays provides novice researchers, students, policy-makers and academics with a wealth of knowledge on organized and transnational organized crime. It is truly remarkable to see this inter-disciplinary mixture of works of all sorts - classic, theoretical, methodological, comparative, and contemporary - informed from such a wide range of perspectives from the historical, to the realist, to the critical, which have been included in this collection. Of significance are Sheptycki’s Introductory Essays written for each Volume, which place the selections in a wider context and direct the reader to further readings into these global phenomena.  This is an essential collection which makes an impactful contribution to expanding our knowledge and understanding of organized and transnational organized crime.

Transnational Organized Crime is a timely and comprehensive collection of the most important and interesting papers in this field. It includes both well-known studies and little-read gems. The Collection comes with thought-provoking Introductions to each volume by the editor, James Sheptycki. Professor Sheptycki places the readings in their historical context, evaluates merits and limits of each one and introduces key debates. The Editor’s Introductions are a most enlightened guide to these complex and ever-changing phenomena. As a whole, Transnational Organized Crime is an impressive achievement.

Transnational Organized Crime was once a marginal topic, but no longer.  In a field now crowded with summaries, handbooks and compendia Sheptycki has accomplished something significant.  These volumes contain many articles which invite readers to quickly review many well-known contributions to the literature and to re-acquaint themselves with lesser-known essays.  The Introductions to each volume are excellent.  I share Sheptycki's preference for work that is critical, empirical and inter-disciplinary and think that readers' appreciation for the complexity of the issues raised by the concept of ‘transnational organized crime’ will be enhanced through reading this admirable synthesis of the literature.