ABSTRACT
Transborder criminal activities may be sponsored by a state or instigated by groups, and involve at least the four types of multinational crime discussed by Martin and Romano—terrorism, espionage, and drug and arms trafficking. Mexico is another case of a weak state penetrated by organized crime. Organized crime groups do not necessarily have a zero-sum relationship with the state. Understanding the role of the police is central to the analysis of their relationships with organized crime groups and the state. New crime syndicates have been formed by an alliance between gangsters and former members of the communist nomenklatura, leading to the criminalization of the Russian economy. Russian state autonomy vis-a-vis organized crime remains relatively weak. Espionage, terrorism, and assassinations are perceived as crimes against the target governments. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
