Comparison Between Organized Crime And Terrorism Essay

Introduction

• Organized crime refers to unlawful activities conducted by members of highly organized gangs and associations (CEDAT, 2008).
• Its defined by members and activities of a group.
• Groups engage in market based crimes, are highly organized, seeks to penetrate into the legal economy, and they are associated with violence.
• Terrorism refers to acts of violence or existence of threat of violence
• Terrorism is characterized by violence, coercive goals, and creation of overwhelming terror (CEDAT 2008).

Comparison between organized crime and terrorism

Similarities

• Activities: Both commit crimes for predetermine purposes
• Similar internal objectives (CEDAT, 2008)
• Targets and victims of criminal activities are similar
• Decentralized systems of organization
• Unlawfulness (CEDAT, 2008)

Differences

• Varying ideologies and external objectives
• Terrorists accept risk more readily than organized criminals
• Activities in terrorist groups are diversified relative to organized criminal groups
• Degree and symbolism of violence differs in both groups (CEDAT, 2008)
• For terrorism, crime is a means of executing an act while in organized crimes, crime is an end to financial needs.
• Organized crime seeks to maintain secrecy while terrorism thrives under publicity

Al Qaeda terrorist organization and its interrelation with other terrorists groups

• Al Qaeda started off as a multi national support group which funded and orchestrated activities of Islamic militants worldwide (Bevy, 2006)
• Its primary goal is to overthrow corrupt and heretical governments and replace them with Islamic law
• It promotes anti-Western attitudes and views US as prime enemy of Islam (Bevy, 2006)
• Advocates for destruction of states which are viewed as major obstacles to reforms in Muslim societies e g US and Israel
• Al Qaeda offers financial support to Muslim fighters in the war torn Middle East region
• Manipulates Islamic religious teachings to justify criminal activities
• Provides financial incentives to other terrorist groups and financial inducement to criminals (Bevy, 2006)
• Acts a source of negative campaigns against its target states which attracts terrorist attacks.

Hells Angels organized crime gang and its interrelation with other gangs

• Begin off as a group of California World War 2 veterans
• According to Barker (2005), Hell Angels is considered as the first most powerful organized gang
• Its initial activities included vandalism, public drunkenness, fighting and traffic violations
• Allies with other international crime organizations in drug operations and distribution
• Hell’s Angels is estimated to have over 700 members in the United States (Barker, 2005)
• The gang has established other affiliates in countries such as Denmark, New Zealand, Europe, Australia, Japan, and Great Britain among others
• Gang often conflicts with other OMG over issues of drug market and gang territory

Similarities between the fundamental make up of Al Qaeda and Hells Angels

• Both groups were initially established by war veterans (CEDAT, 2008)
• Membership acquired through recruitment in accordance to pre set by laws (Barker, 2005).
• Members dedicated to execution of criminal activities.
• They possess complex international criminal networks
• Characterized by Strategic alliances
• Both groups establish affiliates in other countries, form partnership and seek to acquire external support (Barker, 2005)

Differences between the fundamental make up of Al Qaeda and Hells Angels

• Relationship with target states and governments (CEDAT)
• Different leadership and organizational structure
• Different motives in both Al Qaeda and Hells Angels (CEDAT)
• Al Qaeda has more diverse global connections than Hells Angels
• Difference in member’s appearance and representation between the two groups (Barker, 2005)
• Restricted membership in Hells Angels with members expected to pay dues (Barker, 2005).

Similarities between the fundamental make up of group origins

• Both justified their criminal activities using political and social ideologies (Mallory, 2007)
• Both groups claim to be victims of wide spread discrimination
• Both groups thrived as a result of increased global interconnectivity (Mallory, 2007)
• Both emerged from mal adjustment of war veterans
• Unlawfulness: Both groups engage in socially deviant behaviors.

Differences in fundamental make up of group origins

• Hells Angels lacks ethnic background while Al Qaeda has its origins traced to the Arab world (Bevy, 2006)
• Al Qaeda targeted ‘Anti Muslim’ states while Hells Angels targeted financial opportunities
• Al Qaeda is Muslim based while Hells Angels accommodated members from diverse religions
• Hells Angels is financially motivated while Al Qaeda engages in massive destruction of property.
• Al Qaeda promoted Islamic war against Jews and crusaders while Hells Angels disrupts social order for own material gain (Bevy, 2006)

Past and current trends in Al Qaeda operations

• In the past: Al Qaeda funded Muslim militants
• Conducted extensive negative campaigns against target countries.
• Fought against corrupt and oppressive governance (Bevy, 2006)
• establishment and radicalization of Muslim groups (Bevy, 2006)
• Currently: the organization has diminished in size and scope
• Al Qaeda focus of on spreading terror and conducting terrorist attacks on target states across the world (Chaliand & Blin, 2007)
• Al Qaeda lacks a sufficient organization structure and resources to mount global operations
• It inspires, instigates, funds, and coordinate operations by other terrorist groups (Chaliand & Blin, 2007).
• Relies on associate groups in Africa and Middle East to conduct its operations
• Forcing the US to withdraw its troops from Islamic countries.

Future trends in Al Qaeda operations

• Intensified counter terrorism measures hinders Al Qaeda operations (Hoffman, 2003)
• Difficulties in maintaining its ideology and concept (Hoffman, 2003)
• Dynamic nature of terrorists attacks may favor Al Qaeda

Al Qaeda poses major threat in Middle East, Asia, and Africa

Past and current trends in Hells Angels

• In the past: Group was a symbol of rebellion and social deviant behavior (Barker, 2005)
• Execution of crime during runs with motorbikes
• Currently: Drug traffic is the major source of Income
• Engages in diverse illegal activities such as prostitution, fraud and extortions
• Dominates the drug market in United States
• The largest and most powerful organized crime group in USA (Barker, 2005).

Future trends in Hells Angels operations

• Free trade and regional associations will promote the gang’s operations (Lyman & Potter, 2007)
• Improved information and communication technology provides opportunities for illegal activities (Lyman & Potter, 2007)
• The Changing character of organized crime hinders effectiveness of security measures
• Increased security measures will reduce overall crime rates

References

Bevy, J. L.(2006). Al Qaeda: an organization to be reckoned with, NY: Nova Publishers.

Blin, A., &Chaliand, G. (2007). The history of terrorism: from anti antiquity to Al Qaeda, University Of California Press.

Center of excellence Defense Against Terrorism (2008). Organizational and psychological aspects of terrorism, Amsterdam: IOS press.

Hoffman, B. (2003). Al Qaeda trends in terrorism and future potentialities: an assessment, California: Rand Publishers.

Mallory, S. L.(2007). Understanding organized crime, Massachusetts: Jonnes and Bartlett Learning.

Potter, W. G., & Lyman, M. D. (2007). Organized Crime, Fourth Edition, NY: Pearson Education.