THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANIZED CRIME, ITS MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

Аннотация

Organized crime is a critical subject in contemporary criminal law and criminological research, being regarded as a complex form of criminal activity that causes serious harm to national security, the rule of law, and social justice systems. This article analyzes the origins, historical development, and theoretical foundations of organized crime, as well as its reflection in international legal instruments.

Since the mid-20th century, organized crime has rapidly expanded on a global scale, manifesting through transnational criminal networks, economic crimes, corruption, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. In response, key international legal documents such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000) have been adopted, establishing a legal framework for combating such crimes globally.

In Mongolia, organized crime began to proliferate during the transition to a market economy. Since the early 1990s, political and economic instability, weak legal frameworks, and the limited capacity of law enforcement institutions have created conditions for its growth. Therefore, aligning Mongolia's criminal legal regulations with international standards, enhancing inter-agency cooperation and information exchange, and strengthening the independence and professionalism of the judiciary, prosecution, and police are essential steps in addressing this issue.

To fully understand the structure and nature of organized crime, this study employs methods such as historical analysis, synthesis, deconstruction, analogy, and comparative analysis. The research identifies the Italian mafia as a prime example illustrating the origin and pattern of mafia-type organizations, while also examining how similar criminal structures gained power by infiltrating political and economic systems in countries like the United States and Russia.