The Impact of Western Exploitation on Global Crime

The main factor behind the rise in global crime is Western exploitation of developing societies.’ Evaluate this view.

Key focus of the question
Global crime, sometimes known as transnational crime or ‘crimes without frontiers’, can be understood as crime that takes place across the borders of one or more countries. Studies suggest that the scale of global crime has increased significantly in recent years. This question invites candidates to consider the reasons for the rise in global crime and, in particular, to reflect on possible links with Western exploitation of developing societies. Candidates are likely to discuss examples of global crime that have clear links to exploitation and the spread of global capitalism, such as the drugs trade, people trafficking, sex tourism, and international financial fraud. Examples of environmental crimes and corporate crimes in developing societies might also be cited in support of the view expressed in the question. While Western exploitation of developing countries may be a significant contributor to the increase in global crime, other factors are also involved. A strong evaluative response to the question will consider some of these other factors, including the impact of wars and regional conflicts, weakness and corruption in some governments, improvements in global communications and transport networks, and the impact of increased levels of international migration.

Indicative content
For:
💥 Marxist sociologists explain the growth in global crime as mirroring the spread of the global capitalist economy. Castells, for example, argues that globalisation resulted in the development of physical, digital, and financial networks that cut across national borders and which led to knowledge as well as goods and people moving quickly, easily, and cheaply across the world. While this facilitated the development of global capitalism, it also created opportunities for the development of global criminal networks. There are connections between drug dealing (through money laundering) and the global financial system, for instance.
💥 Wallerstein believes that global capitalism has damaged the economy of poor countries, making the latter fertile ground for the development of criminal networks who may be recruited by established criminal groups in wealthier countries to, for example, supply drugs or people trafficking.
💥 Western exploitation of developing countries has exacerbated problems of poverty and social disorganization in those countries. In that context, global crimes provide an opportunity for poor people in developing societies to generate a significantly higher income than would otherwise be available to them. Some become the organizers and/or participants in illicit activities such as international cybercrime, people trafficking, and drugs supply.
💥 Competition from large, western💥style farming enterprises in developing countries has led to many local subsistence farmers abandoning conventional crops and grow plants to produce illicit drugs.
💥 So💥called ‘green crimes’ have contributed to the growth in global crime. These crimes are often committed by transnational corporations who flout environmental protection laws in poorer countries. Transnational Corporations may also break laws relating to the health and safety of their workers in developing countries.
💥 Deregulation of the world’s financial system, which in part was designed to facilitate growth in international trade and commerce, has facilitated a range of financial crimes, from tax evasion and insider trading to defrauding transnational organizations such as the EU out of grant and subsidy money.

Against:
💥 While Western exploitation of developing countries may have contributed to the increase in global crime, it is not the only significant factor. For example, wars and regional conflicts in developing societies have caused extensive social disruption and impoverishment of local populations. In turn, this has led to a huge increase in migration, thereby creating a market in people trafficking.
💥 The claim that global capitalism and the spread of neoliberal values around the world has weakened the economy of poorer countries (and thereby encouraged a local and global increase in crime) has been disputed. In many cases, the economy and institutions of poorer countries may have been strengthened through increasing international trade and exposure to globalization.
💥 Growth in international tourism has provided a context in which sexual crimes have proliferated. Some poorer countries are viewed as a safe haven for sexual predators who visit as tourists and exploit women and children in the local sex industry.
💥 Deregulation of the world’s financial system, which in part was designed to facilitate growth in international trade and commerce, is another factor contributing to the growth of global crime by facilitating a range of financial crimes, from tax evasion and insider trading to defrauding transnational organizations such as the EU out of grant and subsidy money.
💥 Although poverty in developing societies may facilitate global crime, the extent of the problem is greatly exacerbated by the weakness of the legal and political systems in many poorer countries and by the failure of governments in developed countries to crack down on the corporate crimes committed by transnational organizations in less developed countries.
💥 Improved global communication and transport networks, particularly the internet, has facilitated the growth in global crime and allowed criminal gangs to operate across borders with a reduced risk of being caught.