Under Construction: ESDP and the Fight against Organized Crime

Berenskoetter, Felix

Abstract

This essay discusses the phenomenon of 'organized crime' as a matter for EU foreign and security policy. Primarily aimed at searching for conceptual guidance, it draws on literature on criminology and policing, presenting two different theoretical perspectives for analyzing the phenomenon of 'organized-crime fighting', a utilitarian and a critical one. Against this backdrop, the essay discusses how ESDP (European Security and Defence Policy) has developed and engaged the issue of organized crime. Specifically, it outlines the character of ESDP as a mechanism for 'civilian crisis management' and illustrates its 'working' through the case of the EU's police mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUPM) by placing it in the two different theoretical frames. Deciding in favour of a social constructivist approach, the essay concludes by suggesting that a successful strategy must focus on the dissemination of the EU's understanding of 'organized crime' abroad

Citation

Berenskoetter, F. (2008). Under Construction: ESDP and the Fight against Organized Crime. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, 2(2), 175-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/17502970801988073

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Aug 27, 2009
• Journal: Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding
• Print ISSN: 1750-2977
• Electronic ISSN: 1750-2985
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 175-200
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17502970801988073