Petr Pojman, Ph.D. , Criminologist and Political analyst

Politics and Crime in Eastern Europe

Security risks in Russia, Belarus Ukraine and other eastern European countries are currently consists of a combination of several factors. But it is most especially the activities of organized crime, corruption and failure of some key segments of the state administration. All these aspects to a large extent are related to the political situation in the particular area.

From the perspective of criminological analysis is important to monitor the main changes and trends, or to warn ahead of possible risks.

Development and change, which passed  organized crime in recent years, made it stronger, more dangerous and influential. Initially it was rather informal organization based on communities. Currently, organized crime resembles a rational bureaucratic organizations managerial type becomes part of the system and affects many other parts of society. Organized crime nowadays forms the parallel power structures. In many cases, it assumes or replaces the function of legal state structures.