Prohibition and the Rise of Organized Crime in America - Essay Example

The black market created from alcohol was easily filled by criminals. This reason alone was strong enough to repeal prohibition in 1933. As a public health policy historians argue that prohibition did reduce alcohol use and the associated harm (Hall, 2010, p 1165).

Many dry states created economic power for wet states willing to transfer and sell across state lines which was a popular activity in organized crime. It was very common for organized crime organizations to be on regular shipment and supply schedules with establishments subject to prohibition. At that time, before 1930, there were no uniform National crime statistics and national prohibition and the illicit income it produced was a factor in the widespread corruption of police and public officials (Hall, 2010, p1168).

Disagreements over illegal alcohol shipments and delivery contributed to an increase in murder rates in large cities such as Chicago. States considered ‘wet’ attributed increases in Federal arrests to prohibition and it was more accurate to assume these arrests reflected crime rates rather than actual enforcement.

Political mechanisms operated in the legitimate and less legitimate worlds of prohibition, racketeering, and vices which caused a loss of control in American politics, corrupt officials and organized crime groups took over these roles. Many political systems overlooked organized crime enabling them to stay in power using the often very influential support of the organized crime groups, eliminating opposition and more easily raising funds (Beare, 1997, p 157). It is these very reasons why the problem was not eliminated much more efficiently by either law enforcement or the United States government.

Perpetuating Organized Crime through Narcotic Trade

The illegal narcotics trade was estimated to be the second-largest industry in the world in 2007 (Swanstrom, 2007, p3). Transnational organized crime is cited as a serious and very distinct security threat at the societal, national, regional, and international levels. Organized networks that organize the narcotics trade are usually international though their counterparts and partners must be well-established and organized within the United States.

Narcotic trade also raises levels of corruption and can dominate both local trade and politics. Those most powerful organizations have affiliations with politicians, law enforcement, and lobbyists, and are often seen as staunch community supporters though it may be well known that they are affiliated with powerful organized crime organizations. This problem is less prevalent now than it was at one though.

Organized crime can continue through narcotic trade as it is perpetuated worldwide and interstate and country compacts and agreements vary in their level of extradition or punishment so often American hands are tied on this end when attempting to cut off major international suppliers to the United States through legal enforcement. Security threats such as the narcotics trade affect economic and societal development and seriously undermine and weaken political stability.

Money generated in other countries through narcotic organized crime is also used frequently to strengthen militant nonstate organizations and are some actively involved in terrorism to achieve their goals, all funded with money easily generated through narcotic trade. Corruption and political weakness are more evident in states that already demonstrate internal weaknesses and narcotics networks can influence benefits such as production and transit (Swanstrom, 2007, p 9).

Stronger states do not tend to view internal issues as security threats, their political institutions can deal with internal problems. Weakened states are at the disadvantage of often being poor, and mismanaged, and with leaders who are under less scrutiny or whose people find it more acceptable for allowances to be made for certain powerful citizens; their actions are more often overlooked and less scrutinized.

Examples of Narcotics Trade that Perpetuate Organized Crime

Tajikistan has been receiving help from the United States and European nations since the 1990s. Their location allows them to be a major player in international opiate trafficking routes. Ensuring these routes remain perpetuates organized crime as politicians and others in power are influential with border enforcement and political parties though assistance has been aimed at reducing this influence and cutting off these connections (De Danieli, 2011, p 129).

In 2002 there was a huge increase in the amount of Afghan opium, though the British did urge the targeting of key drug facilities by the Pentagon drugs and terror were viewed differently by the American government. Afghanistan today supplies 90% of the world’s heroin and it is obvious that with such a monopoly on the market, those factions running the production facilities were more easily able to finance terrorism activity and organized crime activity. The US responded to this fact along with the British though this is an example of narcotic trade perpetuating organized crime, be it terrorism or another form.