NCJ Number
216130
Journal
International Journal of Comparative Criminology Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: 2003 Pages: 119-148
Date Published
2003
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This examination of cross-border crimes and deviance in Asia and the Pacific focuses on social-disorganization crime, opportunity crime, corporate crime, bureaucratic crime, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and organized crime within and outside national or territorial borders in the region.
Abstract
Social disorganization due to large-scale immigration in the Asia and Pacific region has disrupted families and resulted in economic instability and social stress. These contribute to both property crimes and crimes against persons. The unequal distribution of opportunities for legitimate economic advancement combined with the high value given to material gain have fostered widespread illegal activities to increase wealth. Corporate deviance and crimes have increased as domestic enterprises have proliferated, foreign investments have grown, and multinational corporations have expanded to Asia and the Pacific. As government and bureaucrats have increased their influence in economic activities in many Asian and Pacific countries, corruption of public officials has followed. The three major drug production bases and the largest drug consumer market in the world are located in the Asia and Pacific region, making drug smuggling a significant problem. Human trafficking and illegal immigration are prevalent in the region due to uneven economic development, natural disasters, political volatility, military uprising, cultural clashes, and social instability. Various cross-border crimes are related to organized criminal groups and gang activities. Capitalism is advancing and socialism is retreating at both national and international levels. This has increased economic and social gaps and weakened state and societal controls on socioeconomic patterns. Traditional means of formal and informal social control in the various Asia and Pacific societies are attempting to adjust to the need to control rapid and widespread change in the volume and characteristics of crime. 65 references