Studies of Organized Crime

This book delves into a previously unexplored realm within criminological scholarship: Israeli organized crime. Breaking the silence that has shrouded this topic, this book undertakes a comprehensive examination of the intricate socio-economic and cultural landscapes that have shaped the criminal operations of a diverse array of Jewish and non-Jewish criminal entities, spanning from the inception of the Israeli state to the present day in 2024.

Drawing upon meticulous ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Israel between 2020 and 2024, alongside rigorous media analysis, interviews conducted both domestically and internationally, and a wealth of visual material captured by the author during fieldwork, this study offers unparalleled insights into the dynamics of Israel's underworld. It examines the multifaceted activities of various criminal organizations, including but not limited to drug and human trafficking, protection rackets, gambling enterprises, and contract killings.

Moreover, this book critically examines the responses of authorities and law enforcement agencies to the escalating influence of organized crime amidst the backdrop of major socio-political upheavals in Israel, ranging from wars and waves of immigration to terrorist attacks. By contextualizing these criminal phenomena within broader historical and contemporary narratives, this work not only fills a significant gap in scholarly discourse but also provides a nuanced understanding of the intersections between crime, society, and governance in the Israeli context.

This edited volume explores recent research and developments in the study of organized crime. It covers six key areas: drug-related issues; human trafficking and prostitution; sports and crime; procurement and corruption; and enforcement and prevention.

The contributors provide timely research for understanding various aspects of organized crime, as well as the responses that have been developed worldwide to prevent and contain them. These contributions were presented at seminars of the Centre for Information and Research on Organized Crime (CIROC). It will be of interest to researchers in Criminology and Criminal Justice, particularly with an interest in organized crime and criminal networks, as well as related fields such as Comparative Law, and Political Science.

This collection represents the most current thinking on entrenched problems of organized crime….This book is an important contribution in developing new approaches to organized crime and its control.

— Jay S. Albanese, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Criminal Justice Programs, Virginia Commonwealth University

The book is very well organised and written and deals with a diversity of topics and approaches.

— Ernesto U.Savona, Director of Transcrime, Professor of Criminology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan

This book deals with the widespread economic and financial crime issues of corruption, the shadow economy and money laundering. It investigates both the theoretical and practical aspects of these crimes, identifying their effects on economic, social and political life.  

This book presents these causes and effects with a state of the art review and with recent empirical research. It compares the international and transnational aspects of these economic and financial crimes through discussion and critical analysis. This volume will be of interest to researchers and policy makers working to study and prevent economic and financial crime, white collar crime, and organized crime.