Organized Crime: A Realist Approach?

Williams' piece discusses the relationship between transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and the state. His approach to framing this subject seems to have roots in realist theory, particularly in its concept of "survival strategy" (173). When the government fails to legitimize itself, thereby failing to secure the safety and prosperity of its citizens, citizens' are incentivized to engage in criminal activity.

Realist theory asserts that actors--living in a state of anarchy--are motivated to secure their own power and security. As such, I would argue that survival strategy is a result of anarchy. However, we have mostly discussed in class thus far the notion of states acting to preserve these preferences, not so much individual actors within the state (i.e. citizens) doing so. There seems to be some symbiosis between this concept of state preservation and individual preservation, which can cause tension when the two conflict. If we look at this from the top left box of the 2x2, we might view the citizen and the state each as its own billiard ball. When the interests align (i.e. the state is securing the citizens' preferences, in turn securing its own), there is little clash between the billiard balls. But, when the state fails to do so, there is conflict, thereby resulting--in this example--in crime, as a means to the citizens' end.

What is most interesting perhaps is the way in which the citizen billiard ball becomes one, rather than many. In a situation where the state lacks legitimacy and sovereignty, there is collapse. Therefore, the citizens--and their government--can no longer be considered a whole unit comprising the state. Despite the anarchic nature of society, individuals at some point band together into one unit in order to encourage their own preservation. In this instance, organized crime provides this preservation by securing them territory, money, etc. It is important to consider the factors that might influence individuals, even acting out of self-preservation, to change their allegiance to a difference sovereign, or to find alternative routes of preservation (i.e. organized crime).

In this way, it appears that the role of the individual is quite critical in supporting the significance of the state in realist theory. While we refer to "the state" and its preference for sovereign territoriality, power, and security, it appears that the state is only as powerful as its ability to preserve these same interests of its citizens.


Phil Williams, “Transnational Organized Crime and the State,” in The Emergence of Private Authority in Global Governance, ed. Tom Biersteker and Rodney Bruce Hall (Cambridge, 2002).