Ports and Organized Crime in the Age of Globalization

Abstract

This thesis examines the deep relationship between globalization, ports, and transnational crime. In detail, the main object of research is represented by ports and their crucial role in vehiculating criminal activities within today’s globalized world. The first part addresses the issue of globalisation from three different points of view. In fact, after an attempt to define globalisation from a semantic point of view, three cases in which this phenomenon is most visible will be analysed: migratory flows, the movement of goods, and technological development. After an initial discussion of the intrinsic characteristics of each of these elements, the discussion will follow on how organised crime interacts with and modifies them. The second and third parts of the thesis are dedicated to a detailed analysis of the port system, both from the point of view of its functioning and from the Italian, European and international regulatory point of view. Finally, the last part of the thesis proposes the case of the port of Gioia Tauro as a case study in which all the elements referred to in the previous sections will be found and analysed in a more specific key, applying them to a practical example.