Organized Crime As a Social Institution Term Paper

Social Institution and Organized Crime

Viewing organized crime as a social institution can enable law enforcement agencies to better understand how organized crime operates and maintains its structure and standing in society. A social institution is simply a system in which behaviors and relationships governed by the mechanisms of the system's structure; it consists of a group of social positions, relationships and social roles, all of which combine to give the institution its character. While organized crime may seem like a group that operates below the surface of society or in the underground, the fact of the matter is that organized crime is very much a social institution, in which relationships are fostered, hierarchies are evident, behavioral norms are expected, and goals are projected. This paper will discuss organized crime as a social institution using empirical and speculative theories to better understand how the term social institution applies to organized crime.

The empirical and speculative theories that are most applicable when applied to organized crime and criminal behavior are the theory of conspiracy or alien conspiracy theory, the queer ladder theory of mobility, social disorganization theory, social control theory, rational choice theory, and deterrence theory. There are many other theories that have been used to explain criminal behavior, but due to the limitations of this paper, it will only examine a few of these.

The theory of conspiracy simply holds that in order for a common goal to be achieved, more than one individual or entities must work together or cooperate in achieving that goal. In the case of organized crime, that cooperation is often done in secret or with one or more entities turning a blind eye to criminal acts. For example, with organized crime selling goods on the black market that have been stolen, consumers are willing to turn a blind eye to the fact that theft was involved because they are happy to get the goods for cheap prices (Organized Crime, 2016). In the theory of conspiracy, there is a quid pro quo relationship among stakeholders: consumers get what they want on the cheap while criminals make their money are avoid exposure. Thus, there are many stakeholders in organized crime and the theory of conspiracy can help to explain their activity. Likewise, the alien conspiracy theory can be used to place blame on "outsiders and outside influences for the prevalence of organized crime in U.S. society" (Lyman, Potter, 2007, p. 60). This theory has been used to state that organized crime is conducted by a series of families of foreign lineage -- Italian, Jewish, Russian, Latino -- who are, therefore, outsiders or aliens to American culture.

Rational choice theory is used to suggest that members of organized crime join out of free will after making a logical decision to take part in crime. Their decisions are based on rational choice, which everyone…