In recent years, the international community has increasingly focused on the existence of linkages between organized crime and terrorism and, reflecting this trend, the United Nations Security Council has adopted various resolutions on this issue (e.g. resolutions 1373 (2001), 2195 (2014), 2462 (2019)and 2482 (2019); also see the Presidential Statement S/PRST/2018/9 of 8 May 2018).In doing so, the United Nations acknowledges that any intersection of terrorism and organized crime would represent a significant threat to international security.
While this area is the subject of a growing body of literature from governmental and non-governmental organizations, and is attracting increased academic interest, there is very little agreement on the existence, nature and extent of any linkages between organized crime and terrorism. Nor is there yet any authoritative consensus on which empirically based methodologies should be adopted for the collection, analysis and evaluation of data to identify the nature and extent of any linkages in different regions. These debates and gaps in available information and knowledge are noted in a number of international fora, including discussions held at the United Nations (e.g. see Security Council Statement 13325 of 8 May 2018, in which the Council "encourages Member States and international, regional and subregional organizations and fora to enhance knowledge of and support initiatives to address […] the linkages between terrorism and transnational organized crime […]").
This Module aims to provide lecturers with an overview on the linkages between organized crime and terrorism, as well as available tools to complement further research on this issue at the tertiary level. It is intended, therefore, as a technical assistance tool to help build the knowledge base on this thematic area of growing concern to the international community.
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