Critically evaluate this statement: ‘Definitions of organised crime can be categorised as either ‘WHO’ or ‘WHAT’ What distinguishes a ‘mafia’ from other types of organised crime? Illustrate your answer choosing a case study of one mafia-type Organised Crime Group.

Written portfolio

Part 1 (1500 words – 50% of the total grade):

Critically evaluate this statement: ‘Definitions of organised crime can be categorised as either ‘WHO’ (Focusing on the individual offenders and their variable partnerships) or ‘WHAT’ (Focusing on the criminal activities conducted) Your answer should draw on a range of definitions of organised crime, and consider their policy implications.

Part 2 (1500 words – 50% of the total grade):

What distinguishes a ‘mafia’ from other types of organised crime? Illustrate your answer choosing a case study of one mafia-type Organised Crime Group.

For Part 2, Organised Crime in Japan and yakuza shall be the case study of one mafia-type Organised Crime Group.