Sociology · Year 13 · Crime and Deviance · 1.º Período

Globalisation, Green Crime, and State Crime

This topic explores the impact of globalisation on criminal networks and the emergence of new forms of crime. Students will investigate environmental crimes and human rights abuses by states.

TL;DR:This unit examines the changing nature of crime in a connected world. Students look at how globalisation has facilitated human trafficking, drug smuggling, and cybercrime. They also explore 'green crime', acts that harm the environment, and 'state crime', which involves illegal acts committed by governments. These topics are crucial for understanding the limitations of traditional policing which stops at national borders.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• AQA A-level Sociology 4.3.1.5
• AQA A-level Sociology 4.3.1.6

About This Topic

This unit examines the changing nature of crime in a connected world. Students look at how globalisation has facilitated human trafficking, drug smuggling, and cybercrime. They also explore 'green crime', acts that harm the environment, and 'state crime', which involves illegal acts committed by governments. These topics are crucial for understanding the limitations of traditional policing which stops at national borders.

Students will evaluate the work of Beck and the 'global risk society', considering how modern threats are often manufactured and borderless. This topic requires a global perspective, acknowledging how historical colonial ties and modern economic power imbalances shape criminal networks. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of global supply chains and environmental impact.

Key Questions

1. How has globalisation altered the nature of organised crime?
2. What constitutes a 'green crime' in contemporary sociology?
3. Why is state crime often difficult to define and prosecute?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Green crime only refers to things that are illegal.

What to Teach Instead

Many environmentally damaging acts are legal but considered 'green crimes' by sociologists. Using a sorting activity helps students distinguish between legalistic and transgressive definitions of crime.

Common Misconception

State crime only happens in 'dictatorships'.

What to Teach Instead

Sociologists argue that democratic states also commit crimes, such as illegal wars or institutional negligence. Case studies of Western interventions help students apply a more critical, balanced lens.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game

The Global Crime Web

Assign students roles like 'consumer', 'trafficker', 'producer', and 'regulator' across different countries. Use string to connect them as they trade illegal goods, showing how difficult it is to break the chain.

40 min·Whole Class

Stations Rotation

Green Crime Case Studies

Set up stations for different green crimes (e.g., illegal logging in the Amazon, toxic waste dumping in Africa). Students must categorise each as 'primary' or 'secondary' green crime.

30 min·Small Groups

Mock Trial

The State on Trial

Students hold a trial for a state accused of human rights abuses. One group acts as the prosecution using international law, while the other defends the state using 'neutralisation techniques'.

50 min·Whole Class

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between primary and secondary green crime?

Primary green crimes result directly from the destruction of the earth (e.g., air pollution). Secondary green crimes involve breaking rules designed to prevent environmental disasters (e.g., hazardous waste disposal).

Why is state crime so difficult to study?

States have the power to make the laws, define what is 'legal', and hide their own activities. They can also use 'neutralisation techniques' to justify their actions as being in the national interest.

How has the internet changed global crime?

The internet allows for 'disintermediation', where criminals can reach victims directly across borders. It has created new crimes like phishing and identity theft while making traditional crimes like fraud easier to scale.

How can active learning help students understand state and green crime?

Active learning, such as role-playing international tribunals or mapping global waste flows, helps students move from abstract definitions to understanding the power dynamics involved. It forces them to confront the complexity of international law and corporate accountability.