PSCI4317 - The Politics of Illicit Trafficking

PSCI 4317 The Politics of Illicit Trafficking (3 semester credit hours) This course will examine trends in illicit activity in the global economy. It will engage with how, on one hand, the "dark side" of globalization creates spillovers such as violence, corruption, and public health crises. Yet, on the other hand, illicit markets may help people gain access to better livelihoods to provide for their families or to needed goods. The class will focus on the politics of government decisions surrounding illicit markets, including prohibition, enforcement, and international cooperation. Throughout the course, students will be challenged to think about the intersection of economic and security issues, alongside the applied public policy concerns around control different types of transnational crime. Topics will include several cross-border illicit markets such as illegal drugs, small arms, wildlife, and kidnapping. The class centers around understanding five questions about each topic: Who is gaining or losing from the illicit market? What stage is illegal (production, transit, consumption)? When did the issue area become a regional or international concern? Where does the illicit commodity move? Why is the trade illegal in some places (and perhaps not others)? (Same as IPEC 4317) (3-0) Y