State Power and the Illicit Globalization Debate

This chapter focuses on the impact of globalization on the illicit global economy and the implications for the ability of states to control their borders. It addresses questions such as Are states losing control? Are borders being overrun by clandestine flows? Is this a new problem? Can borders be sealed? Are states losing the technology race? What is the role of corruption in the illicit global economy, and is corruption getting worse? In what ways are governments complicit in the illicit global economy? How violent is the illicit global economy? What is the relationship between the illicit global economy and armed conflict, and how new is this relationship? Is armed conflict always good for illicit business? How similar are the black-market activities of insurgents and criminals? Are criminals and terrorists converging? What are “conflict commodities”?