SOC7043 - Illicit Markets

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Develop a critical knowledge and understanding of concepts associated with globalisation, illicit marketplaces and the political economy.
Thoroughly critique key debates concerning a range of links between business, politics and organised crime within specific illicit marketplaces.
Analyse and evaluate representations of key criminological themes in the light of complex contemporary debates.
Demonstrate an ability to conduct research proficiently and meet deadlines to pre-agreed standards.

Content:

The module has been designed to allow students to contextualise the ‘glocal’ (the nexus of the global and the local) nature of crime, focusing on the contraband and illicit commodities within the contemporary marketplace. Here, the supply and demand of illicit goods - ranging from illegal drugs, tobacco and alcohol, pharmaceutical medicines to mobile phones/computer chips and other commercial commodities will be addressed in detail; it will also examine other forms of illegal marketplaces with the trafficking of human beings and the sex trade The module will look at the nature, type, context and extent of organised crime; international trade routes, production centres and consumption patterns and the extent to which they are embedded in national and international political economy. The module will then move on to look at specific international, national and local networks of illegal trafficking.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning and teaching methods will be structured around student-led project work, supported by workshop activities, such as directed reading and writing, seminar debates, student-led presentations, and guidance and support for the critical skills and presentation techniques or tools to be employed. Feedback on student work and feed-forward guidance will be central to this module.

The module will be delivered by means of a total of ten weekly 2.5-hour workshops. The module will also be supported by this guidebook and Moodle, which will contain references to specific readings/documentaries and podcasts to enhance your learning experience. You are expected to thoroughly study the relevant readings prior to your workshop and to come prepared to debate and evaluate them.

Seminars/Workshop
Hours: 25
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided Independent Study:
Hours: 275

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment 1 : 2000 – word [individual] podcast topic script. To complement the podcast student groups will also be expected to submit a sole-authored 2000-word essay. This written document will cover the main points of the selected illicit market choosen for the small-group podcast but need not be comprehensive.

Assessment 2: 20-minute [small group-max 4 students] podcast of a selected illicit market.
The podcast will need to demonstrate an understanding of one relevant area of ‘illicit-market’ analysis demonstrating a sound grasp of knowledge and understanding of theories of globalisation and localised markets of that illicit commodity. The podcast will be delivered in small groups with a maximum of four.

Assessment:

001 2,000 word podcast script (individual); end of semester 2 40%
002 20 minute small group podcast; end of semester 2 60%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Robert Hornsby
Level - 7
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7PGS2

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