Transnational Organized Crime and Conflict (honours)

2025-2026

Algemene informatie

Vakcode R_TCCH
Studiepunten 6 EC
Periode P4
Vakniveau 300
Onderwijstaal Engels
Faculteit Faculteit der Rechtsgeleerdheid
Vakcoördinator dr. M.P. Bolhuis
Examinator dr. M.P. Bolhuis
Docenten dr. M.P. Bolhuis
Onderdeel van opleiding(en)

Praktische informatie

Voor dit vak moet je zelf intekenen. De inteken- en afmeldtermijnen staan op VU.nl

Voor dit vak geldt een maximum aantal deelnemers van 15.

Onderwijsvorm Werkgroep, Hoorcollege

Doelgroepen

Dit vak is ook toegankelijk als:

Dit vak wordt in het Engels aangeboden. Omschrijvingen kunnen daardoor mogelijk alleen in het Engels worden weergegeven.

Doel vak

The aim of this course is to familiarize students with different forms of transnational organized crime that occur in the context of conflict and to understand and explain their occurrence and relation to conflict.

At the end of the course the student:

A. Has knowledge of and insight into:

  • the characteristics and definitions of different types of transnational organized crime occurring in (post-)conflict situations;
  • definitional debates around transnational organized crime phenomena;
  • responses to transnational organized crime and the relevant legal actors in that context.

B. Is capable of:

  • applying theoretical concepts to conflict situations in order to analyse the occurrence of transnational organized crime.

C. Shows evidence of:

  • thinking critically about policy responses in this area.

Inhoud vak

This course focuses on the interrelation between conflict and transnational organized crime. How do wars or uprisings create, facilitate, and contribute to the proliferation of transnational organized crime? What are the links between organized crime and the occurrence, intensity, and duration of conflict? And how should organized crime be addressed post-conflict or in the transformation of societies towards peace?

The course consists of a combination of lectures and tutorials. The course revolves around guest lectures, focusing on specific forms of transnational organized crime and its connection to armed conflict or terrorism, provided by renowned experts on these transnational organized crime forms, working in practice or in academia.

Aanvullende informatie onderwijsvormen

The course consists of a combination of lectures (every week) and workshops (every other week). Apart from an introductory and closing lecture, the guest lectures zoom in on a specific type of transnational organized crime, firstly by discussing definitions of, and responses to, that type of crime; and secondly by looking into examples of occurrences of the type of transnational crime in conflicts. The workshops zoom in on interventions and policy responses in specific cases.

Toetsvorm

The course is evaluated with written assignments in preparation for the tutorials, a final written assignment in the form of a research paper, and a group assignment (a policy brief and presentation).

Literatuur

The course uses a collection of academic articles and book chapters on transnational crime in conflict situations. These are available online via the VU library.

Aanvullende informatie doelgroep

This course is only open to honours students at the Law Faculty.

Afwijkende intekenprocedure

Only a limited amount of students (40) may participate in the course.