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Organized Crime and Trust: On the Conceptualization and Empirical Relevance of Trust in the Context of Criminal Networks

NCJ Number
210370
Journal
Global Crime Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2004 Pages: 159-184
Author(s)
Klaus von Lampe; Per Ole Johansen
Date Published
May 2004
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This paper proposes a design for research into the role of trust in organized crime networks.
Abstract
Future research should provide a clear conceptualization of what "trust" is and what it does for organized criminal networks, a clear understanding of how trust emerges among criminals and how it contributes to the emergence and maintenance of criminal cooperation, and valid and reliable data on the presence of trust as an important element in relationships among criminals. The paper begins with a brief outline of possible constellations relevant to trust in two illegal markets, the illegal alcohol market in Norway and the cigarette black market in Germany. This is done to introduce a more refined understanding of the concept of trust in a study of organized crime. Following this conceptual discussion, the paper addresses the relevance of trust in various settings of organized criminal operations, using anecdotal evidence from the authors' research on the alcohol and cigarette black markets in Norway and Germany, respectively. The data tentatively suggest that there are different types of trust in organized crime networks, and the violation of trust is not uncommon. Contrary to common belief, when the violation of trust does occur it does not necessarily lead to violent responses. The authors offer the tentative hypothesis that criminal cooperation can exist without a foundation of trust and even in a climate of mistrust. 8 notes and 66 references