Organized Crime and Its Influence

Organized Crime and Its Influence on Politics in Eastern Europe After the Fall of Communism

What is Organized Crime?

Influence of Organized Crime in Politics in General

Influence of Organized Crime in Politics in Eastern Europe

Background information on breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union

Political Sector of Balkans after breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union

How Organized Crime influenced the Political sector of Balkans after breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union

One cannot ignore the fact that the globe has penetrated into the age of industrial revolution where the technological and scientific advancements and innovations are at the peak. In this era of progression, social issues and concerns have simultaneously been escalating at an unprecedented rate. Crime, indeed, organized crime has become one of the increasingly growing issues for not only specific nations but for the entire world. In other words, the transnational organized crime that has become a growing concern on a universal basis has elevated the threat and risk to the stability of the nations in terms of political, economic and social (Madsen, 2009).

The challenges and affects of organized crime that are consequential to the nation and its denizens have been existed since centuries and is not a new concept. Besides, the intensive and determined efforts that are made to wipe out or restructure the organized crime have also been present from the time transnational organized crime has existed. However, it is the perception that has changed over the years, as people have gained more insight and awareness nowadays with respect to the organized crime, which has become a globalized threat to the security on national as well as on international basis (Madsen, 2009).

The illegal actions performed by an individual refers to the perception is authenticated as criminal actions. It is significant to comprehend the reasons that motivate the people to be a part of the illicit activities of crime. However, pertaining to this theme, the contributing motives that persuade the people to participate in organized crime include from simple greed for money, hunger for power, their overall circumstances, poor financial conditions and many others. Taking into account the crimes that are committed by the people in organized crime agencies includes the offensive actions and activities such as torture, violence, extortion, robbery, blackmail, physical destruction, murder and various others (Madsen, 2009).

Even though, one cannot find any single and universally accepted definition of the organized crime, yet on the broad spectrum, organized crime is an operating venture or organization on an ongoing basis that engages itself in the production and trade of goods and services that are purely illicit (Madsen, 2009).

In order to comprehensively and holistically understand the functions of organized crime, it is essential to accumulate and integrate the knowledge, wisdom and insight from several disciplines, as the organized crime cannot be completely understood by one discipline. However, law and order of the nations and on international basis has been observed as one of the most pertinent and dominating discipline that can facilitate in developing an understanding to the origins of organized crime activities. This is predominantly due to the reason that laws are the corner stone for gaining the insight that what is legally accepted within the society and what is unacceptable or wrong from the social and legal perspective (Madsen, 2009).

It has come to notice that from the end of the Cold War, international domination and power has been disastrous in keeping and maintaining the pace with economic globalization. Due to this reason, criminals have had a huge opportunity to thrive and flourish, as the globalization aroused and encouraged global economic growth and development. Moreover, the emergence and development of revolutionary technology, rising businesses, as well as political pressures has also largely contributed in providing the criminal organizations with a new avenue to grow and prosper (Madsen, 2009).

As criminal groups and networks have progressively broadened their horizons to the global platform, they have gained more access within the governmental agencies and huge businesses. Additionally, the organized crime has not left any nation from its indelible imprints whether it is underdeveloped nations or developed countries with no instant approach of halting their development. With this infiltration, these criminals have produced and formed ways to increased corruption, and at the same time, jeopardized safety and well-being (social and economic) of various developing nations. Therefore, it validates that organized crime has reconstituted its influence and supremacy in the political and economic sector on international basis in an extremely negative manner (Madsen, 2009).

Since the subject matter of organized crime in the past few decades have completely evolved into its own sub-discipline, hence, it has become imperative and vital to understand the aspects of their success in their endeavors and efforts in order to come up to some effective solutions to halt such activities. Economics, business, law, history, and politics are few of the fundamental disciplinary areas that ought to be explored so that the root cause of the problem can be determined and identified (Madsen, 2009).

However, from the general and broad perspective, many of the issues and concerns that has a profound connectivity with social control, is also interlinked to the political segment. In this regard, organized crime has been witnessed to have deep influence in politics. Considering the fact that global organized crime is spread to every corner of the world and is continuing to expand through permeating into economies, thus, in this regard, the thesis report intends to have a deep analysis and assessment on the influence of organized crime on politics.

The research study in this regard includes a comprehensive analysis on the topic of organized crime, its influence in politics, particularly in the region of Eastern Europe, after the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The background information on breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union would also be an integral aspect of the study, as it would help to develop an understanding on how organized crime leaves an influence on such unstable political conditions.

What is Organized Crime?

Organized crime is typically defined as the universal venture and business that has encircled all the nations of the world and has become transnational organized crime. Although the experts and professionals have not developed any particular universal definition of organized crime, but organized crime typically refers to the organization or enterprise that is operating on a long-term basis with the primary function of production and trading of goods and services that are merely illegal and illicit (Abadinsky, 2009).

However, Lyman and Potter describe organized crime as "a continuing, profit-motivated, criminal enterprise that employs the use of fear, violence, intimidation, and public corruption to achieve organizational goals and remain immune from law enforcement" (Lyman and Potter, 2000, pp. 9).

The organized crime has infiltrated to all over the world ranging from Japan to Russia to USA. In wide-ranging aspect, organized crime typically involves illegal acts that are inhuman, heartless and brutal, however, some of the common and widespread affronts and offenses of the organized crime incorporate torture, violence, extortion, blackmail, physical assault, kidnapping, murder, money laundering, drug trafficking, human trafficking, armed robbery and various others (Abadinsky, 2009).

Taking into account, the activities and operations of the organized crime groups, it has been examined that nearly all the groups work in the similar fashion. This means that these organized crime groups are non-ideological, monopolistic, have their own hierarchical systems, provide limited and exclusive membership, and preside over by specific rules and regulations. Moreover, the organized crime groups elect and make their own governmental systems that particularly exist for rewarding and punishing the members of the groups (Abadinsky, 2009).

Punishment is an integral part of the organized crime groups, particularly due to the reason that strongly believes in maintaining strict and proper law and order amongst all the members, which are same for everyone and no one receives any special treatment. In fact, the organized crime groups do not empower the members to become witnesses of the government, as it poses danger and risk for the entire enterprise. Furthermore, records have revealed the fact that many of the organized crime enterprises have strict rules with reference to murders and assassinations, such that they are not allowed to kill the innocent people of the state or nation. This signifies the fact that the criminals only target other criminals from either their own organization or from various other organizations (Abadinsky, 2009).

The prime motive of these organizations is to gain control and dominance over certain industries and sectors so that they can create their own system of monopoly and supremacy over the invaded sectors. Once they are able to take over the entire industry, they it becomes near to impossible to prevent them from doing what they wish to do. The organized crime is also intended to gain more money and increase their financial assets to the quantity that no one can image (Abadinsky, 2009).

Moreover the greed for power or being physically the most dangerous people that can threaten a large population have come to notice as the fundamental motives that persuade them to perform such illegal and inhuman activities. Organized Crime has been witnessed to prosper with the infiltration on legitimate businesses in a way that they associate themselves in order to steal from the host. Organized crime organizations execute such activities in order to generate income, sweep profits, achieve more power, and launder wealth (Abadinsky, 2009).

The crimes that are committed by the individuals that are employed in the legitimate corporations are particularly known as white collar crimes. A white collar crime is another salient aspect of organized crime, which is constantly growing at an accelerated pace in the current times. Embezzlement, fraud, and theft are the key characteristics that define the white collar crime, usually executed by the employees working within the organization (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

However, it has also been monitored that nowadays the members of the organized crime enterprises embed themselves into multinational and giant corporations so that they can create substantial revenues through risking on the investments such as narcotics trafficking. Through this approach, where money is transferred swiftly on a global scale, it has transmitted the illicit excise duties and made it into legitimate accounts with the manipulation of the system (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

According to some schools of thoughts, organized crime over the past several decades has become such a strong organization that they now own their sub-discipline. In order to combat the organized crime, it is crucial and fundamental to understand their activities and efforts that makes them successful in their endeavors. Nonetheless, the disciplines that play a substantial role in understanding the problem of organized crime include business, economics, law, history, and political sectors (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

Law and order is the most relevant and eminent feature that need grave consideration that can aid the nation to analyze the issue of organized crime and people that profoundly participates in such criminal and illegal activities. Furthermore, the existence of the organized crime always creates a threat and risk to the stability of the nation because these illegal activities and entities breaches the law and order of not only one nation but violates the law all over the world (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

Organized crime has gained a strong hold not only in the United States, but also in many parts of the European region along with Asian countries. The spread of the organized crime enterprises has increased to the regions that were considered potential that could give them more control and dominance. According to sources, the people of the organized crime organizations initiated their operations from stealing and robbery that cultivated to gambling, narcotics, and even prostitution (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

Criminal agencies are organized on basis of few characteristics. The technical feature of this association imposes the largest threat to law maintaining bodies, as it is capable of effectively managing and running gargantuan network of criminal activities. The organizers are able to employ this feature to the best of their use by controlling and monitoring the series of information by themselves. Additionally, powerful links and well-planned structure for interaction at every level make such criminal organizations more dangerous for peace building authorities (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

On the other hand, a divergent feature of the organization adds on to its complexity, thus multiplying the difficulty for peace representatives to curb the criminal actions. The vulnerability of this characteristic can be anticipated by the fact that although the members of criminal organizations are part of a network, they are not directly associated with one another. Furthermore, their activities are widespread and as they are regularly being informed about the plans, they can cause havoc without being identified by the concerned authorities (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

While looking at the most powerful organization within the organized crime agencies, Italy and Russia are considered to be top agencies where the mafia is progressively growing at an accelerated pace both in terms of numbers and capital. The principal reason for the increase in the organized crime in the recent years is characteristically due to the booming economy and technological innovation and progression such as internet, rapid ways of money transfer and so forth (Abadinsky, 2009).

The governments and political bodies cannot ignore or overlook the criminal activities and the consequence of the events from such acts from which these organized crime groups operate. Nevertheless, these groups and organizations can only be combated when the political parties on the global basis would develop a comprehensive understanding of the causes that results in these groups (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

Organized crime groups have been determined to have influence over the governments of the nations. Scores of aspects are pivotal to consider that largely contributes to the organized crime and how they control the government of the states. However, one of the examples of the organized crime defines that the people with criminal minds (members of these groups) persuades and manipulates other local people such as gamblers, liquor traders, and bar keepers that political power under successful guidance is possible and is of great benefit (Edwards & Gill, 2006).

Influence of Organized Crime in Politics in General

The fear is the prominent factor that organized crime and transnational organized crime uses to become powerful in order to leave dramatic impacts on the world and its entire populace.

Indeed, the affects and influences of organized crime have deeply and negatively touched every facet of life, whether it is financial sector, social strength, economic stability, legal segment, or political arena. Besides, due to illegal activities committed by large-scale illegitimate organizations, many of the regions in the third world and underdeveloped nations have been thrown into anarchy, confusion and disarray (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

Corruption, violence, and other illegal and brutal activities are the foundation stone for international organized crime agencies that poses risk and threat to the nation's security, and hence become a source of human misery. The organized crime weakens and destabilizes the integrity of not only the financial systems, but also damages the commodities and securities markets. Besides, the international organized crime has become an overall threat and problem to the national and international security on a broad spectrum (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

Several issues and problems are widely associated with the organized crime due to the relationships that it establishes in order to carry out their illicit actions. Many of the problems have immensely been surfaced from the fact that organized crime is engaged with the politics. This is not just the end of the problem, as organized crime has huge influence over politics of the nations. When organized crime contributes to the politics of the nation, it brings numerous severe, harsh and far-reaching effects on the citizens of that country, as well as upon the policy makers that are within the governmental bodies (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

Since the essential and fundamental objective of the large-scale organized crime enterprises is to get hold of power, influence, and have monetary and commercial achievements, thus they intend to influence the political body of the nation, which is the most powerful agency that controls the entire nation. The organized crime agencies influence the political bodies completely as well as partially by illegal means so that they can have protect and defend their activities by means of corruption or violence (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

Taking into consideration the political body of the nation, it is comprised of government, which is a comprehensive governing authority with complete powers to rule over the citizens of the country. In addition, the government is the ruling body that design and make laws, settle and become a mediator in resolving the overall disputes, issue or pass decisions for administrative activities and so forth (Albanese, 2010).

Organized crime organizations on the other hand, are the group of people that run illegal operations of goods and services universally with the primary objective of generating capital, fiscal profit and social power. Organized crime is typically distinguished by having few distinct attributes that involve the activities such as hierarchical constitution, diversified interests, capital growth, access to political fortification, employment of violence for defending mutual interests and so forth (Albanese, 2010).

Looking at the characteristics of both the organizations (government and organized crime), deep connections and relationships have constantly been found amongst them throughout the history. Besides, one cannot even ignore the fact that there has been constant struggle between the two organizations from centuries. The historical evidences elucidate the fact that political leaders from all over the world at many occasions have been blamed and fingers had been pointed on them that they have run and operated their nations in a very similar manner to the criminal organizations (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

However, the records and historical data have made it obvious and apparent that organized crime have always been present and illegal activities have continued from a very long time even before the government was formed for the first time in history. Since the organized crime started to become more visible and noticeable within the societies, thus it made it a necessity of a governing body that could manage and control such illegal activities, and hence the government was formed that implemented the laws within the societies. This aspect also explicates the fact that criminal activities and organized crime existed much before the government was formed and established (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

The historical evidences have shed the light on the fact that political corruption has been the most significant source that cannot be separated from organized crime. Political corruption has come under consideration as the most powerful tool for organized crime. This denotes the reality that the political authorities who are corrupt at the local or national level have proved to be prevailing and dominant apparatus for organized crime (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

From the wide ranging studies, the fact has come to forefront that when the members of the organized crime enterprises get involved with the people present in the political bodies, it is likely to result in corruption amongst the people of the law making bodies. This corruption is likely to happen because the people that are elected for making law and policy within the state, they prohibit being the representatives of the governmental agencies and engage in illegal actions. This demonstrates the idea that when the law makers and policy makers turn out to be corrupt, the legal system of the kingdom fails to fulfill what it was meant for (Albanese, 2010).

Corruption has remained one of the widespread and integral issues within the politics of the nation that is created by the organized crime as a result of the relationship and influence over political personnel. This is particularly due to the reason that targeting the politicians and the government is far more effective in comparison to aim at other public institutions (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

In addition, the level and extent to which the system of the government is corrupted makes it easier and effectual for the organized crime organization to influence them. Indeed, corrupted system facilitates the organized crime organizations to influence the government system, law enforcement, and state's judiciary and hence, in this manner they can impose far greater damage on the society or nation when the government is corrupted (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

Upon considering the characteristics of both the agencies, one can observe the fact that quite a few attributes are in common within the structure of government and organized crime that they share in common. This means that politicians at the governmental level on many occasions have been observed to be involved in criminal activities that include weapons sales, international loans, corruption and many more. Moreover, the crime has always been in the same direction with that of government such that both have marched along with each other throughout the history, which has made it present in every society whether it was dynasties, socialism, colonialism or it is the modern democracy (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

Due to the innate and inborn corruption, lawlessness and disorder present within the government and their activities, they have been considered to be the same as organized crime. As an outcome of such an attribute of government that makes them undistinguishable from the organized crime, the businesses of such groups have always been successful and they have thrived up till now. Besides, these organized crime organizations have continued to grow as with the passage of time and the extent to which the corruption system escalates (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

The organized crime have been witnessed to take complete advantage of corrupted politicians in such a way that they expand and broaden their activities from illegitimate into legal markets in order to attain a public image that is respectful. This is possible because these organized crime enterprises influence the government with no trouble. The lawful and legal image provides them with the opportunity to have legal and open meetings with public officials and use their contacts to fulfill their interests and activities (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

Extensive studies bring the fact to the limelight that organized crime groups by donating huge capital to the political campaigns and supporting the political parties can easily and effortlessly influence them and use them for their interest at later stage. This exposes the fact that the direct and open links of political parties and organized crime groups in legal markets facilitates the organized crime to acquire economic power to a much greater extent. Besides, it also enables the organized crime to commit more sophisticated and white collar crimes without any difficulty (Albanese, 2010).

Empirical investigations also reveal that international organized crime groups use the tool of corruption as the most effective means to influence and persuade the national and international governments so that they can easily operate as well as protect their illegal activities and operations throughout the world. This also enables them to enlarge their sphere of power, control and influence. The organized crime groups use legal as well as illegal means to influence the government officials, as their vital aim is to gain success in corrupting the officials from all over the globe in a systematic manner (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

Therefore, the studies on a collective basis proclaim that the elevated sophistication, erudition and complexity of the organized crime agencies increases the odds of having greater and stronger relationship and connection between the stat's politics and criminals. Moreover, the overall analyses of the research studies undoubtedly presents the idea that criminals and organized crime enterprises extensively use corruption as the most powerful tool in order to influence the political bodies and the government administration of the nation (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

The instability of the nation is one of the prime reasons that provide great opportunities for the organized crime enterprises to establish their base. For this reason, the increasing instability within the last couple of years in many regions around the world that even include few areas of Europe has been a growing concern for the government. The alarming aspect that makes the governments worry is the weakness of states in controlling the well-being and safety that immensely allows the organized crime groups to enlarge and spread out their influence over the political sector of the region. The organized crime groups make such places as their safe shelters where the government control is outside the areas (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

When the conditions of the state are not stable, it means that the government of that realm is weak or fragile. Furthermore, quite a few studies have also exposed the reality that many of the European nations have a huge propensity for political flux and unsteadiness that result in changing governments on a frequent and regular basis. This clearly explains that the political parties' needs to be reformed and restructuring become a necessity. Consequently, the political parties experience poor functioning system due to inadequate finances (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

However, these unstable circumstances aid the organized crime to infiltrate into the local democratic mechanisms. Due to their strong financial and economic factor, they leave an influential affect on the local government, which is already weak in terms of finances. Moreover, these organized crime in order to support the political parties, extort votes from the citizens by threatening them through violent actions or persuade them in exchange of different incentives (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

This typically happens because the external funding is the significant aspect on which the political parties rely. As a consequence, the political parties secure and lock a number of votes, while in exchange they give favors to the organized crime groups that interest them such as contracts for public assignments, patronage, and so on (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

Unstable governments and political conditions of any state becomes the most significant victim for the transnational crime networks. This is typically because the unstable governments are not enough powerful that can prevent or thwart the network of the organized crime. Besides, they are easily convinced to make them a considerable part of the country's politics for the reason that illegal activities will be of benefit to the government that can aid them with colossal profits. Therefore, the transnational organized crimes become the prime reason for not shifting the nation towards stability and hence it results in peace suspension by means of illegal actions such as bribery, violence or terror in order to accomplish their needs. The judicial system of the unstable kingdom is damaged by the influence of organized crime to a very large extent (Albanese, 2010).

It has also been examined that the constituencies that have weak or no government in operation to combat the ever increasing organized crime enterprises, such states and kingdoms are easily influenced by the organized crime organizations and they prosper well in these areas. Nevertheless, the fact is authenticated that impact of organized crime on destabilized or weak government has been found to have the most adverse and severe. The lack of governmental control, supremacy and enforcement extremely gives rise to the organized crime organizations, and this becomes the key aspect in their growth and success. In fact, the failure of the governments allows the members of the organized crime to establish strong and powerful illegal enterprises (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

The organized crime agencies prove to be influential to the local government because the weak government system with the politicians having control over the governance of the state usually gets persuaded by the bribes in exchange of providing the criminals with the incentives of their interests. Threats and intimidation are also the alternative methods that are usually used by the weak government that enclose little power (Albanese, 2010).

While quite in contrary, according to the studies, the organized crime groups also focus on manipulating the stronger and stable governments, as these governments are a source that can provide them with greater benefits in terms of monetary and power. Therefore, the organized crime groups do this by indirect threats or pressurizing the state's political bodies by creating tensions in various areas that can lead them in catching the attention f the government. From an overall analysis, it has been obvious and apparent that the organized crime undermines, weaken and damage the democratic society and deplete national assets of a stabilized nation, as well as restrain and hamper the development of such a society (Albanese, 2010).

Many people especially the historians have believed and perceived that organized crime groups have flourished more in the countries and societies that have been in the transition phase towards the democratic rule. The representatives of organized crime groups seek to acquire some positions in the initial and embryonic legislatures and governing body. The primary intention of the organized crime groups behind was to become more influential body for the new legal structure or framework of the country that is in the development process. Furthermore, by being more manipulative, the organized crime groups have the opportunity to establish rules that are favorable according to their interests (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

The impact that organized crime can bring on the democratic supremacy and dominance can be adverse and overwhelming because this influence frequently results in an entire circle of distrust, suspicion, corruption and even violent response. All these aspects worsen and intensify financial crisis within the kingdom with the unequal allocation of wages as well as increasing rate of unemployment. Such drastic circumstances of the nation elevate the anticipation that organized crime groups will escalate, enhance and extend their activities (Fijnaut & Jacobs, 1991).

Another vital and crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked is the fact that globalization within the business community and travel industry have been a great opportunity for the organized crime groups on a universal basis. This is characteristically due to the reason that globalization allows the organized crime networks with an unprecedented freedom of movement. This freedom of traveling leaves them with numerous options to travel cross borders and spread out their scope of operations (Albanese, 2010).

Considering the fact of freedom of movement, many of the European countries similar to several other industrialized nations, have become both a lucrative goal as well as an attractive environment for operation of organized crime because they are relatively rich in terms of assets and capital and have strong telecommunications modes, and transportation infrastructure. Additionally, the effective modern banking system of the nation also creates a path for the transnational organized crime to perform illicit financial transactions without any difficulty (Schulte-Bockholt, 2006).

To put it in brief words, corruption in the political body of the nation has proved to be the most effective, dominant and influential tool that has been used by criminals on a widespread basis, due to the reason that it creates a huge opportunity for the criminal organizations to persuade various and diverse facets of the nation that includes bureaucracy, law-enforcement, and judiciary.

This also signifies that the phenomenon of organized crime has a direct participation and involvement in politics of the country, regardless of the fact that the nation is developed or underdeveloped. The stagnant, sluggish and unstable economic conditions in relation to high rates of unemployment in many of the region all over the world have also become the pivotal cause for organized crime to flourish and thrive in such states.

Influence of Organized Crime in Politics in Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe, particularly Balkans has been one of the powerful regions within the globe in which the organized crime networks have flourished. Many of the states of European Union have been the primary routes, directions and trade channels from where the organized crime groups committed multiple illegal activities. Moreover, according to the historical evidences, conventional cultural and societal aspects have also been the prime reasons that promoted and persuaded the criminal organizations to perform such illicit activities (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

Organized crime has also expanded their activities, power and authorities within many states of Europe by means of political involvement. Politics of many European states have been unstable, weak, sluggish and ineffective in maintaining the law and order within the country, due to which the sector of politics was immensely involved with the organized crime (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

Transnational organized crime enterprises was magnetized and attracted towards Eastern as well as Central Europe, because they noticed the falling of communist rule and command over the residents and the loss of controls over the border. These two factors highly attracted the organized crime networks to deep root their origins in such places. As a consequence, the citizens of the nations witnessed a rapid increase of the universal organized crime activities at an accelerated pace in the early years of the decade of 1990. The organized crime activities also escalated in these regions because the political, social and economic issues and concerns were the only highlighted and focused dilemmas that pulled the attention of the new democratic governments, and the organized crime took advantage of it (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

The topography, geography and the design of the Eastern Europe had been in such a way which became one of the principal and key factors that promoted the growth of organized crime within the region. The region of Eastern Europe is typically considered as the strategic intersection between Russia and other newly independent states, which developed into a major source for transnational organized crime networks. In addition, this turned out to be the strategic intersection for Western Europe as well, which has been a crucial market that traded drugs and various other illicit products (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

These included the illegal imports and trading of smuggled goods such as alcohol, tobacco products, and other consumer items that are highly demanding and generally unavailable in Russia. The high and well developed infrastructure for transportation has also made Balkan a crucial and vital passage zone for the transportation, transfer or transit of different kinds of smuggling of contraband products (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

The realm of Balkan had remained a traditional major route and passage way for few of the states that connected them to other regions in the Central and Northern side of Europe. The Balkan route has always been busy with a large quantity of commercial traffic on its route. This heavy volume of traffic was considered as the benefit for the organized crime groups that concealed, hided and smuggled contraband products in huge quantities. This explicates the fact that the organized crime networks used the Balkans route as the traditional and prominent avenue in order to smuggle the illegal products from the regions where they purchase in low prices and sell it to the European markets on a much profitable price (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

The augmented and improved trade features and commercial relations with many states of the Europe has played a significant role that contributed to the growth and prosperity of transnational organized crime groups in European regions (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

Studies also reveal the fact that in the latter half of the twentieth century, the European Union countries initiated the execution of strict rules and enforce stringent regulations in order to alleviate and eliminate the money laundering from western region of Europe. As an outcome of it, the organized crime groups moved most of their activities related to money laundering to the evolving economies of Eastern Europe (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

This means that the depleted and incapable legislation together with weak and inadequate laws of regulation, elevated organized crime network powers, poor enforcement of new banking and financial systems have been the prime reasons that was leveraged by the organized crime groups within the Eastern side of Europe that allowed them to smuggle currencies and legalize huge amount of illicit profits (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

The organized crime organizations in addition to corrupt businessmen have completely exploited and profited from the poor regulations of Eastern Europe that lacked in the regulation related to privatization of assets and capitalization of banks that can enable them to obtain or invest in banks and financial institutions in order to defraud developing stock markets (Shanty & Mishra, 2007).

To put it in brief, organized crime groups have been witnessed to have assistance; encouragement and support by corrupt officials in the political and other sectors have comprehensively undermined and diluted the economy on a broad spectrum in many of the regions of Eastern Europe. Moreover, organized crime and corruption have been determined to be the salient and eminent political issues in many parts of the European countries. Furthermore, the majority of the population of Eastern Europe also exhibits the similar opinions with reference to the poor conditions of the kingdom that organized crime and corruption are the two leading and prominent issues of the country that needs grave consideration.

Background information on breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union

It was the latter half of the twentieth century that witnessed the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The constant political upheavals and conflicts were the primary and fundamental reasons that contributed to the breakup of Yugoslavia which happened in the early years of the decade of 1990 (Lukic & Lynch, 1996).

The evidences reveal the reality that Yugoslavia was a multinational and cosmopolitan state that was an amalgamation of several ethnic, cultural and religious groups. Yugoslavia is the land that is extended and stretched from Central Europe to Balkans, which makes it a region with different ethnic backgrounds (Hammond, 2004).

Since the breakup of Yugoslavia, quite a few of the ethnic groups were displeased and unhappy with their status defined in the new country, thus opposition occurred against the dominance of one ethnic group over others for having more right in political. This opposition eventually resulted in conflicts that affected the economy of the country, which converted into unstable economical conditions and above that the enemy states surrounded the country states which largely contributed to its destruction (Lukic & Lynch, 1996).

The former Yugoslavia was once considered a regional industrial power that enjoyed the economic success. However, the country's economic sector completely collapsed after the disintegration within the economic situations, wars and conflicts. In addition, when the Eastern Europe failed to continue communism in its regions, it resulted in regional disagreements, inconsistencies; economic incompetence; lack of productivity on constant basis and even augmented the tensions based on religious perspectives (Lukic & Lynch, 1996).

The end of the communist period within the European regions largely contributed to the severe deterioration of Yugoslavia. Moreover, the unprecedented economic crisis during the decade of 1980s made Yugoslavia increasingly come under its drastic impacts. This crisis was generated and prompted by the oil shocks and the global recession that pulled them under huge foreign debts. And this was not the end of it, as the weak governing bodies with no powerful leader, the economy continued to decline that enabled the organized crime groups to enter and mobilize their support (Hammond, 2004).

Yugoslavia before it disintegrated with Soviet Union was overwhelmed with numerous problems, which included inflation, foreign debt, and unemployment, that converted the environment into a troublesome and worrying situation. More importantly, the amplified political problems also caused the country to enter into severe crisis. The breakup of Yugoslavia and Soviet Union brought decentralization and liberalization within the country that offered and authorized to practice the independence and sovereignty in few of the federations (Hammond, 2004).

While taking into account the history of Balkan, it has come to notice that after the World War II, the Balkans were under severe dominance and control of state of Yugoslavia. This domination was due to the integration of Balkan into the Soviet Bloc. However, with the dissolution and collapse of the state of Yugoslavia, it resulted in a widespread chain of civil wars in the western regions of Balkan. Brutal aggression and violence amongst the different ethnic groups in the region was the primary characteristics that caused the internal conflicts (Hammond, 2004).

The initiation of disintegration of Yugoslavia followed the series of collapse that ended in the breakup of the entire Soviet Union. The international powers also played a vital role in the breakup of Yugoslavia with the identification of the rights that all nations possess of self-determination, which in general states the desire to be a part of Yugoslavia (Hammond, 2004).

The end of Cold war aroused the Balkans, which fostered and promoted the conditions for Yugoslavia to disintegrate and split up, as the internal conflicts were also at the peak. However, records depicts that the breakup of Yugoslavia was observed to be violent and aggressive. This violent breakup, in particular, has indicated the fact that international community had been incapable and failed to rely on legal guidelines and principles or established systems that can lead to prevention of chaotic situations and mass suffering (Hammond, 2004).

The collapse and breakup of Yugoslavia had been a turning point for many of the countries that were associated with it. In fact, the people were also optimistic after the collapse of Yugoslavia because the citizens of few of the states believed that the borders of their respective states are overlapping with one another that are causing the conflicts and clashes. Additionally, the general population of Yugoslavia also perceived that they are being considered as a threat to the other national communities because of overlapping with others states. As an outcome of it, both the ideologies that are ethnocentric and national failed to endeavor to constitute Yugoslavia as a successful state on the aspects of modern unitary and liberal state (Hammond, 2004).

Yugoslavia for many years has functioned as a nation by means of coming up and implementing peaceful compromises that are multifaceted and recurrent in order to end the conflicts within the states. However, the central state authoritative bodies of Yugoslavia became weak, ineffective and fragile due to the reason that the process of democratization that was proposed within the republics (states) of Yugoslavia was denied and opposed by the federal government of few states. These unstable decisions amongst the ethnically diverse states led to a situation that created disorder and lawlessness that eventually resulted on collapse of the empire (Hammond, 2004).

Political Sector of Balkans after breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union

The political conditions and sector is the most imperative to understand, because the entire nation, its citizens and the constituency are completely dependent upon it. The governmental bodies are primarily responsible for designing and maintaining law and order within the state and meet the expectations of the denizens for providing the security and their well being (Magstadt, 2010).

In this regard, it is vital to look upon the political sector of Balkans, as it also aids in understanding the level of involvement of the organized crime within the nation. From the perspective of political bodies of the Balkan, it has come to analyses that organized crime and corruption within the governmental institutions and political parties have always been a part of the constituency that came from the old system as the core feature (Magstadt, 2010).

The organized crime has deep rooted its origins; indeed, they grew and prospered in former Soviet Union and Balkan States from the time the nations were under the governance and dominance of bureaucracy. Moreover, the widespread corruption and illegal distraction of resources were another side of the coin that created an environment for the organized crime to thrive and prosper even at the local level. The organized crime groups had great supremacy and control over the local illegal street markets that used the corrupt officials of the government to make it legalized (Bitzenis, 2009).

The bureaucracy that was the key characteristic of the politics of old Soviet system was highly involved in extensive corruption. This augmented numerous prospects for the organized crime groups to execute illegal activities without any fear or trouble. Nevertheless, the denizens from all over Eastern Europe were very positive after the collapse of the communism (the Soviet Union weakened and eventually collapsed) that they would be able to witness an entirely new period that would be characterized by democratic freedom. This signified that Eastern Europe unsurprisingly converted into democracy, which represented the new system of government. This new democratic rule provided the people with the freedom and liberty that was desired by the civilians (Bitzenis, 2009).

The new democracies plunged the residents to encounter multitude of changes. Unfortunately, the path towards affluence and stability was cemented with diverse issues. Everything was collapsed at the end of the communism that included the government as well as the economy. As the people entered into the new transition phase of the life, the progression accompanied confusion and difficulties with it, which obstructed and hampered the democratization of Eastern Europe (Bitzenis, 2009).

As an outcome of it, frustration was developed amongst the people of Eastern Europe, who were anxious to have effective solutions that can resolve their problems and concerns with reference to the poor political conditions. Since the free market economy was entirely a new ideology from the socialist economy, thus this difficulty of the transfer of economies also related in frustration amongst the people. At first, the transition phase was welcomed by the people and they took this era with positivity, however, the frustration did not enable it to last for a long time. All this was primarily because of the new inexperienced governments that came into governance in the East Europe (Bitzenis, 2009).

Due to such a chaotic situation, many of the states were compelled to fall under poverty, experienced high level of unemployment and inflation rates were skyrocketed that eventually resulted in unstable economy. The poor and depriving conditions of Eastern Europe gave rise to organized crime and corruption that flourished. Countries like Balkan that were profoundly dependent on trade with the former states of Yugoslavia came under the drastic impacts of organized crime and corruption. Apart from the political and economic disorder, the ethnic tensions further added the problem and ignited conflicts and fights between the neighboring countries that were in coordination with each other previously (Magstadt, 2010).

The poor and underprivileged circumstances left the political sector of the Eastern Europe with uncertainty. In fact, the countries that belonged to the European Union exhibited positive response towards the newly independent states and democracies from the east into their fold; however, the unstable conditions of the political segment of the new democracies were a major cause of concern (Magstadt, 2010).

The transition and changeover of the governance and rule to the democratic government caused immense challenges for many Eastern European countries. In fact, the evolution from socialism to democracy that attributed the free market economy formed and outlined the future of the Eastern European countries (Noutcheva, 2012).

However, the weak and poor political structure after the fall of communism provided enough evidences of the fact that they have been incapable and ineffective of dealing with the challenges, especially related to the organized crime and corruption that has been deep rooted in the nation's soil. Indeed, the poor governmental officials had been so weak that they were unable and incapable of carrying out the reforms that was essential to bring the benefits to the country. The incapability of the political leaders were obvious from the fact that they were unable to fulfill the basic functions of dealing efficiently to the newly arising problems within the nations, thus resulted in poor functioning states of the Eastern Europe (Noutcheva, 2012).

The Balkan States after the fall of communism faced the major challenge when they were not able to build the political institutions that can handle and manage the overcoming of the new challenges within the states. Since the government and political structure of Balkan States represented weak and fragile attributes, hence, they even had to struggle on a constant basis to establish liberal democracy within all the states of Balkan, as many of the nations practiced democracies on partial basis. As the overall political sector demonstrated weak and poor characteristics, it depicted similar results for the social sector as well, that is a weak organizational capacity as well as weak civil society was highly noticed in Balkan (Noutcheva, 2012).

The ethnic diversity has come under consideration as the prime reasons of the turbulent, chaotic and disordered history of the Balkan States. This is predominantly because after the collapse of the communism, Balkan States have been witnessed to emerge on the surface of the European matters and world affairs, which has evolved the image and position of Balkan politics and was established moreover by the external factors instead of portraying only the internal facets (Magstadt, 2010).

Furthermore, the ethnic divergence and discrepancies within the Balkan States became the fundamental cause of destabilization and ruined the political segment. Moreover, corruption and organized crime have been common and widespread over the entire region of Balkan that further deteriorated the political conditions with its influence (Magstadt, 2010).

Balkan States experienced diversity and variation within the new political system that was established after the fall of communism and breakup of Yugoslavia. However, the new political systems have forefront a surprising and unanticipated fact about military that they did not made significant contributions in the domestic issues and affairs that were handled by the local political bodies (Magstadt, 2010).

The multifaceted and comprehensive literatures have authenticated the reality of the Balkans politics, which has been failed to maintain law and order within the states. This failure of the Balkan's government has represented and indicated the state weakness, their inability and lack of control over various aspects of state's concern. These elements particularly include the maintenance of the rule of law, provide security and well-being to the citizens and secure their trust, and the ability of the government to serve various private interests (Bitzenis, 2009).

The state cannot be declared as a weak state only on the basis of few aspects, as the determination of state failing is a complicated phenomenon that needs grave consideration upon several components. However, considering the Balkan States, it has been proclaimed as a weak and failed state (from the political perspective) due to a number of factors. The constitutional design, intense and powerful ethnic divisions, the inheritance and heritage of the Communist rule, the complexity of economic evolution and changeover and corruption to an extreme level have been the identified factors that have converted the Balkan States into a weaker constituency (Noutcheva, 2012).

The insufficiency and failure of the central state institutions has particularly harmed and brought negative effects to the strengthening of the democratic rule within the domestic level in the Balkan. This also left an erratic impact on the functional decentralization that was accelerating at a rapid speed after the collapse of the communism. All these factors resulted in delays to the transition, oversight and inaccuracy in the administrative work and distribution of indistinguishable powers. This disappointed the denizens of the states and made them cynical with their governments such that they have been unlikely to have belief and faith in the local authorities, which eventually weakened and undermined the entire democracy of the states (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

The political conditions and the strength of Balkan states further devastated and undermined when the state experienced the imposition of a diverse range of constitutional frameworks within the region from external bodies and institutions. The imposed structures at the local level created confusion, puzzlement and disorder, as no one was clear on the responsibilities with reference to the imposed frameworks, and hence, it further challenged and demoralized the trust of the general population on the local institutions. The weakness of the central state institutions ultimately created an unconstructive image and impact on the democratization at the domestic level (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

With reference to the weak political conditions of the Balkan States, efforts have been put that can convert the image into a more stabilized nation. In this regard, studies depict that international bodies has been involved with the Balkan states with the core focus on reconstruction and reformation that can bring more stability and strengthen the country on an overall basis. Since Balkan States are a part of European region, thus the stability pact of Europe was adopted by Balkan States by assimilating the countries into the European frameworks. The prime goal of this process was to bring intensification and growth of inter-state cooperation and streamlining or reforming the current efforts that were put for stabilization (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

Quite in a similar manner, a number of initiatives regarding the peace building activity were also launched in the region. However, these initiatives did not succeed in bringing the desired results, essentially because the regions were not able to generate adequate funds that could enable effective implementation. Moreover, the initiatives also failed because of the authoritative were not able to present the region in an effective manner and with a clear perspective for being a part of European Union (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

Corruption that has rooted in the region to an extreme level was the most significant obstacle that hindered the Balkan States to become successful democratic constituency. The extensive literature demonstrates the idea that the states which are in the transition phase of implementation of a new government, they can encounter two major types of corruption that hampers and thwarts the democratization process: administrative corruption and state corruption (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

The administrative corruption typically refers to the payments that are made or taken in private or personal with the intention to gain favorable treatment from others. While on the other hand, the state corruption refers to the process where illicit payments are made by either individuals or even group of people particularly to the officials so that they can persuade them and have rules and procedures according to their interests such as buying of legislative votes, influencing court decisions and so forth (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

This proves that how the process of democratization is impeded or obstructed by corruption to high levels within the states. Besides, it has been monitored that when people became habitual of corruptions to such high levels, the people are stimulated to hunt for the forms of government that can be undemocratic, as it enables them to have the decisions that interests them (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

Balkan states encountered a weak government also because the domestic democratic governance was hampered by unclear demarcation of powers and responsibilities amongst the political officials and bureaucrats. This also denotes that the governmental united were extremely disintegrated with one another. Moreover, the governing bodies did not have adequate amount of administrative abilities and power in addition to the staff that possessed low skills across the region were also participatory factors in hampering the democratic rule (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

The governance of Balkan States also exhibited few other widespread issues include lack of democratic liability and accountability amongst the political parties. In fact records also indicate that the political officials and leaders and components of the Balkan State had weak and insignificant connections and relationships with one another that added to the problems being faced by the Balkan States. Feedback system and accountability does not exist within the political bodies and institutions (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

The political leaders have not been witnessed to implement the true essence of liberalization as the common people of the state are not promoted or pushed to make active participation in the formulation of policies and decision-making strategies at the local level. The intensification and rampant growth of violent activities against the minority population has become an alarming issue in maintaining and continuing the democratic rule in many of the Balkan regions (Noutcheva, 2012).

The widespread food crisis, poverty and economic influx or unrest constrained many of the countries in Balkan States that were under the support of Soviet to desperation and depression, even much after the fall and collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. However, when the market economy and democratic values were introduced in the Balkan States, few of the countries that had string communist values were involved in conflicts, and hence the political violence appeared as a result. A continued series of war on small scale preferably known as Balkan War was the consequence of the political riots that happened due to collapse of Soviet Union (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

Political uncertainty, disorder and confusion in association with economic instability end in protracted racial tensions that ultimately resulted in widespread ethnic tension in the region that further became the reason for destabilization of the situation. The violent, lawless and rebellious protests devastated the state on the overall basis in addition to the properties of the residents. Unfortunately, these symptoms only represented early signs that continued political destabilization to a much greater extent (Bitzenis, 2009).

Balkan have been unfortunate with respect to its geography and topography that it stands in the middle of two regions that have been at odds. This explicates the fact that Balkan plays the role of an intersection or crossroads that connects the Eastern and Western sides of Europe, thus it is most vulnerable to organized crime activities as well. The Cold War and collapse of Yugoslavia did not bring any change to Balkan in making it a safe place, as only a provisional support was provided by Soviet Union (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

Balkan States have experienced extended years of destabilized governments because of two primary factors: the critical geographical location and the ethnic and cultural diversity. The innocent city dwellers of the region that were under the destabilized governments did not felt safety and security, as the government was ineffective and incapable of serving the people with the fundamental security that the citizens need (Gallagher & Pridham, 2012).

The fall of the communism in Balkan States generated the necessity for the local societies to revive and determine the diversity from a new basis in terms of both the internal and external threats to the society and their needs. These challenges pushed the Balkan States into more entrenched crisis, where the ethnic identity of the minorities in the new system was an additional one. This signified to develop a new and broad vision that exceed and surpass the cultural, ethnic and religious diversities, so that it can enable and facilitate towards the establishment of democratic procedures in accordance to the economy hat can regulate the free market methods (Noutcheva, 2012).

How Organized Crime influenced the Political sector of Balkans after breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union

The fall and decline of the rule of communism, Eastern and Central Europe had prevalently built an image as an intersection and meeting point for both the organized crime, domestic as well as international. In other words, Eastern Europe became the hub for all the organized crime group members from east and west, which is stimulated by the creating strong links between domestic crime groups and various transnational crime networks that have penetrated into the realm (Taylor & Francis Group, 2003).

The collapse of communism within the Balkan States has immensely increased and augmented the organized crime activities across the Eastern Europe, primarily because the post Cold War resulted in unprecedented growth of substantial local and domestic organized crime groups that had strong connection and link transnational organized crime networks underworld. Nonetheless, the association of local and transnational organized crime groups signifies the fact that the evolution of organized crime across East European has been formed by the synthesis of cooperation and conflict that existed between these organized crime groups (Taylor & Francis Group, 2003).

A substantial and critical consequence, indeed, side effect at the end of the Cold War indicates that various newly independents states such as Russia, Balkans and so forth that were included in the former Soviet Union become fertile and lucrative land for organized crime groups in order to expand their illegitimate activities. The deterioration of law enforcement from the states and the significant gaps within the borders of the societies has enabled both the local well as the foreign organized crime groups with an unprecedented freedom to operate and execute illicit activities in accordance to their interests (Taylor & Francis Group, 2003).

The transnational organized crime networks in association and support with highly corrupt officials and politicians rapidly took over the positions and places that were vacant in the surrounding of radical transformation within the political, economic, and social structures. This happened in the state of Balkan for the reason that after breakup of Yugoslavia and Soviet Union, the realm of Balkan confronted divided politics and experienced dysfunctional institutional framework within the political sector. Due to this instability, the government was not strong enough to fight back against the corruption and organized crime that expanded rapidly (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

Numerous sources of information has brought the fact to the surface that the issues that were the common characteristics of Balkan included organized crime, corruption in several sectors namely social, political and economic and various others. In other words, the formation of the new governments had relatively weak positions in relation to the establishment of restructuring and change within the judiciary systems in association with political scandals and corruption that was on high level continued the uncertain conditions within the kingdom and dominated the socio-political landscape. This uncertainty was a great option for the organized crime agencies to deepen their roots within the nation (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

The political unsteadiness constantly devastated the conditions to more advanced stage, which eliminated the possibility of building and forming a shared vision that can cater the challenges being faced by the country on both domestic and foreign platform. The political inconsistency and ambiguity, especially in governance and dominance have left deep and overwhelming scars on the democratic system. This ambiguity within the democracy in accordance with the close ties with organized crime and extensive corruption has apparently shed the light on the way the political parties have operated within the years (Bugajski, 2002).

The organized crime groups have actively and dynamically struggled with the political bureaucrats, government officials, and even business tycoons that can facilitate them in promoting and developing strong and profound business connections and bonding. This constant involvement with such people had proved to be beneficial in becoming prevailing and dominant force in Balkans, as it was worth the efforts for them. In response to their efforts, the organized crime groups received several export licenses, exemptions from the custom duties, and even the government contracts from the corrupted officials present in the politics of the country (Bugajski, 2002).

After the breakup of the realm of Yugoslavia and Soviet Union, the countries had increased options to integrate with the countries from all across the world, and hence, this assimilation unlocked the doors for the organized crime to step into Balkan and other states of former Soviet Union and execute their illicit activities with legitimacy (Balamir-Co-kun, & Demirta?-Co-kun, 2009).

The emerging and developing free markets and financial sectors have created a way for the organized crime to trade and launder money across borders easily. In addition, the strict control over travel was confiscated as the newly independent states came into autonomy, which massively smoothed the progress of smuggling (of various products such as drugs, weapons, alcohol, cigarettes, human trafficking and other illegal contraband) for the organized crime groups (Balamir-Co-kun, & Demirta?-Co-kun, 2009).

The Balkan have become an alternative, traditional and international transit route for the former Soviet Union through which they can easily trade and transfer the smuggled contraband and drugs to other parts of the Europe, where it is in high demand. The international traffickers widely use the Balkan Route through Yugoslavia in order to trade the drugs and other illicit contraband to Western regions of Europe (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

Many of the newly independent states of former Soviet Union were confined to enforce and effectively put the legal and economic reforms into practice due to the strong association of corrupt governmental officials, members of organized crime agencies, and business magnates. The primary reason behind such restriction illustrated the fact that the enforced legal reforms would have hampered and hindered their capacity to gain power, control or have substantial influence over the prolific resources that can aid them in expanding their illegal activities across the borders (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

Studies expose the fact that the organized crime groups have got the most out of weak enforcement of the regulations that existed and inadequate legislation. These organized crime networks made huge investments in banks and businesses by taking the complete advantage of the private sector that witnessed fitful growth. By doing so, the members of the organized crime groups provided protection to the people and their property, resolved various disputes, and offered affordable loans with expensive series of benefits associated with it (Beken, 2006).

The government was not able to play an integral role in preventing such episodes because the law enforcement capabilities were confined by limited funding power, poor training facility, deficiency in sophisticated techniques, and even the laws were not designed in a comprehensive manner that can be applied to illicit activities such as financial crimes or frauds that the organized crime groups carried out (Bugajski, 2002).

The dissolution of Soviet Union and Yugoslavia created an economic and political instability within the constituency of Balkan, which created productive grounds for the organized crime to consolidate and strengthen their position and influence in Balkan society. Moreover, the government continued the possessions of businesses within the economic sector. This established numerous ways and means for corruption through bribery for the government officials that were present in the economic ministries and bureaucracies (Bugajski, 2002).

However, the organized crime groups took the complete advantage of such a situation and continued to influence the political parties and officials so that they can protect and safeguard their assets that can allow them to perform the illegal activities without any problem or prosecution and that too at a much greater extent. Participation in the political affairs was the key factor that was used by the organized crime groups as a mean of investment in the political practice. They made direct and indirect participation that was either in the form of election campaigns or funding the political parties (that exchanged mutual benefit with them) (Balamir-Co-kun, & Demirta?-Co-kun, 2009).

The Baltic ports, especially after the breakup of Yugoslavia and Soviet Union have been a significant source of transit trade that resulted in pivotal options for the organized crime groups on local and transnational basis to easily trade the smuggled products and commodities. Statistical records have authenticated that the Baltic States became the principal commercial channels and outlets between Russia and the Western Europe that produced high demands of illicit contraband. The Baltic ports managed and controlled majority of the consignments that travelled to Russia (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

The organized crime networks was flourishing in the eastern region of Europe because the Baltic ports leveraged them with great opportunities that they took complete advantage of in order to trade high volume of smuggle contraband by means of these ports. Fuel and energy sources were also one of the highly traded strategic commodities that are productive and very profitable target commodities for the organized crime groups (Taylor & Francis Group, 2003).

The organized crime groups had broad visions and they intended to cater and take control over the maximum sectors with the purpose of having increased dominance over the entire states. Due to this factor, the organized crime organizations took complete benefit of the privatization process within the unstable political conditions and corrupt politicians within the Balkan, and they purchased businesses that they can exploit and turn into criminal empires. This provided them with the option to administer their illegal process under legalized businesses that can facilitate them with the import and export processes and they can trade the illicit commodities and launder money with no restriction (Taylor & Francis Group, 2003).

Since many of the states became independent after the breakup of Soviet Union, thus it resulted in poor government and lack of rules and regulations in association with rapid growth with the states. These two facets made the government failed to notice that the financial sectors of Baltic countries allowed and authorized the organized crime enterprises to gain more control over the banking and other financial institutions for money laundering and exploit the other aspects of the financial sector for their own purposes (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

Empirical studies and historical evidences have also brought the fact to the surface that sharp and dramatic growth of the organized crime groups was witnessed due to the fact that after the breakup of former Yugoslavia resulted in regional conflicts to a much higher level, which promoted the organized crime groups to invade into the countries. Since the government on the overall basis was weak, therefore, they employed the organized crime agencies to acquire related arms and weaponries that were needed for the war efforts (Beken, 2006).

This coordination of the governments developed a relationship with the organized crime groups, and hence it became easier to influence the government whenever required. This relationship clearly indicated the increased involvement of the organized crime in the political affairs of the countries, thus it undermined and damaged the law enforcements and also created powerful atmosphere and surroundings that matured the facet of corruption (Bugajski, 2002).

Organized crime groups (both domestic as well as transnational) comprehensively manipulated and made the most of the opportunities in almost every country of the former Yugoslavia for smuggling numerous commodities and products such as liquor, cigarettes, human trafficking, extortion, and money laundering. Indeed, it has been observed that trafficking of quite a few drugs toward the markets many states of Europe become the primary and fundamental business for organized crime groups. Moreover, it has also come to vision that the organized crime groups on local basis established mutual and joint networks so that they can travel freely across the borders without any hindrance (Bugajski, 2002).

Organized crime groups have applied a number of techniques that can help them in destabilizing the economic conditions of Eastern Europe. Since weakening and undercutting the economic sector of the nation directly affects the political sector of the nations, thus the economy was one of the means of gaining control over the political conditions by influencing the government through various actions like supporting and funding the political parties. However, the methods that were used by the organized crime institutions included schemes of financial fraud that required investments and many others that aided them in undermining the economical conditions of the countries (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

Few of the Balkan States have become the most protected and safe places for the organized crime to intensify their roots after the collapse of communism. Moreover, the alarming situation and conflicts within the regions also provided a way, which became the prime substitute option to the traditional Balkan routes and opened new ways of trade movements of illicit contraband. Furthermore, few of the local gangs of the organized crime thrived and flourished within the states due to the chaos and anarchy that existed within the political and economic segments after the down fall of the communism (Gounev & Ruggiero, 2012).

The lack of control in the law and order promoted the members of the organized crime groups to make powerful presence within the Balkan ports. In this manner, these criminals gained the control over the black market and had involvement in drug trafficking that was distributed and traded all over European market. As an outcome of it, the ports became the hub of Balkan for drug trafficking, smuggling and other illegal activities (Balamir-Co-kun, & Demirta?-Co-kun, 2009).

This substantiates that organized crime has largely influenced the political as well as economic developments in many of the Balkan States. Additionally, the organized crime networks (both local and transnational) in the Balkan States continued their power and influence on the fragile and corrupt institutions within the political and economic segments.

The organized crime groups that were entrenched in the Eastern Europe portrayed a very powerful, influential, prevailing and dominant force, regardless of the fact that they had unity amongst them or not. The collapse of communism was one of the utmost opportunities for the organized crime agencies to develop and thrive in the countries over the entire region (Balamir-Co-kun, & Demirta?-Co-kun, 2009).