This shift forms part of the broader societal movement toward transnational social practices and the globalization of the social system. There are historical antecedents to the current concerns over transnational criminality and the need for greater cooperation in law enforcement. Current developments in police cooperation in Europe offer an effective test of the transnationalization hypothesis. This discussion of postmodern developments in policing includes a review of the literature, descriptions of the many organizational forms that have been put in place in Europe to facilitate transnational police operations, and a sociological analysis of these fragmented institutional forms. 22 notes and 92 references