Transnational organized crime networks

The concept of a network has increasingly gained prominence in the analysis of transnational organized crime. It enables analysts to capture the dynamic and adaptive social structure of organized criminal groups, overcoming the limitations associated with previously popular perspectives such as criminal organizations and illicit enterprises (McIllwain, 1999). However, it is important to distinguish between two different approaches to criminal networks that are often confused (Morselli, 2009; von Lampe, 2003). The first approach considers a network as a specific organizational structure, characterized by dynamic patterns of exchange among several actors (Powell, 1990).