The Nexus Between Organized Crime and Terrorism

Types and Responses

Leuven Global Governance series

Edited by Letizia Paoli, Full Professor of Criminology and Chair of the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology, Faculty of Law and Criminology, KU Leuven, Belgium and Life Member, Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, UK, Cyrille Fijnaut, Emeritus Professor of Criminology and Criminal Law, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Tilburg University, the Netherlands and KU Leuven, Belgium and Jan Wouters, Full Professor of International Law and International Organizations, Jean Monnet Chair ad personam EU and Global Governance and Director, Institute for International Law and Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium

In the post-9/11 era, the nexus between organized crime and terrorism has raised much concern and has been widely discussed in both academic and policy circles, but is still largely misunderstood. This critical book contributes innovatively to the debate by distinguishing three types of nexus—interaction, transformation/imitation and similarities—and identifying the promoting factors of each type.

‘This book is a milestone on the road towards a better understanding of the linkages in the underworlds of crime and terror.’
– Alex P Schmid, Perspectives on Terrorism

‘Terrorism is a very 21st century global threat. Organized crime has a distinctly 20th century feel to it yet is often related in the public mind with terrorism. This book explores the variable connections of the two. In some places and at some times they complement each other; at other times and places they compete. Paoli, Fijnaut and Wouters have put together an excellent collection of essays that explore the nexus of the two threats.’
– Peter Reuter, University of Maryland, College Park, US