Criminal planning: the role of traffickers, mafias, and militants in developing world cities
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Editors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AESOP
Abstract
When we think about urban planning, the images that come readily to mind are of academically trained professionals mapping neighborhoods, conducting surveys, meeting with the public, designing infrastructure—all under the aegis of a government or private agency. People immersed in planning literature will probably think of a wider variety of practitioners and practices, but will not immediately imagine Islamist militants, mafiosos, or Kalashnikov-toting teenage boys. However, in many areas of the world, criminal or illicit non-state groups plan, manage, and implement services traditionally provided by government: water, electricity, education, housing, security, and administration.
In the developing world and unstable regions, illicit actors often become involved in city planning activities such as providing basic services and utilities, managing land use, and administrating the real estate market. This paper will look at the conversations surrounding criminal groups engaged in service provision, and suggest a more focused approach to studying their planning strategies. The first section of the paper will explain the rationale for treating criminal groups as planners, and conduct a literature review of existing scholarship on criminal groups in the context of planning; this also a more generalized review of writing on organized crime, because of the paucity of material. As this literature review shows, there is a serious dearth of scholarship on criminals from a city planning perspective, as writing on crime tends to focus on issues of violence, marginalization, and corruption.
Description
Proceedings of the IV World Planning Schools Congress, July 3-8th, 2016 : Global crisis, planning and challenges to spatial justice in the north and in the south
Keywords
License
All Rights Reserved