Explaining criminal networks: Strategies and potential pitfalls

Abstract

This article offers some remarks on a few critical issues related to explanation in criminal network research. It first discusses two distinct perspectives on networks, namely a substantive approach that views networks as a distinct form of organisation, and an instrumental one that interprets networks as a collection of nodes and attributes. The latter stands at the basis of Social Network Analysis. This work contends that the instrumental approach is better suited to test hypotheses, as it does not assume any structure a priori, but derives it from the data. Moreover, social network techniques can be applied to investigate criminal networks while rejecting the notion of networks as a distinct form of organisation. Next, the article discusses some potential pitfalls associated with the instrumental approach and cautions against an over-reliance on structural measures alone when interpreting real-world networks. It then stresses the need to complement these measures with additional qualitative evidence. Finally, the article discusses the use of Quadratic Assignment Procedure regression models as a viable strategy to test hypotheses based on criminal network data.

The Market for Human Smuggling into Europe: A Macro Perspective

“…3 Amenta et al (2016) have tested the effect of naval operations on the market for smuggling services in the Central Mediterranean, and have concluded that Operation Mare Nostrum and its replacements appear to have increased the departures from Libya. 4 For a discussion of the term 'network', see Campana (2016b).…”

The Architecture of Illicit Nuclear Trafficking

“…Nonetheless, there has been a consistent scholarly debate on what is to be defined as a criminal network (Varese 2010). The concept of network isn't monolithic; it can encompass various forms of organisational structures with features and nuances of their own (Campana 2016). Its holistic character is illustrated in the work of scholars, who use it either as a substantive or instrumental term in their research (ibid.).…”

“…is not attached to a specific form of organisation (Campana 2016, p. 3). For instance, using the concept of 'loosely-coupled' and 'tightly-coupled' units, Williams (2001, p. 66) provides a more nuanced definition, simply defining the term 'network' as 'a series of nodes' socially connected.…”

Centrality, Mobility, and Specialization: A Study of Drug Markets in a Non-metropolitan Area in the United Kingdom

“…However, in light of other studies of criminal networks, we believe that police data still remains an important and fruitful source of information to study the structure of drug operations (Natarajan, 2000(Natarajan, , 2006Morselli & Petit, 2007;Campana 2011Campana , 2016aCampana , 2016bCampana , 2018Malm & Bichler, 2011;Bright, Hughes & Chalmers, 2012;Varese, 2013;Bright, Greenhill & Levenkova, 2014;Calderoni, 2014, Framis, 2014Natarajan et al, 2015). McGloin (2005) elicited information on interactions among gang members and their associates from the experiential knowledge of police officers, and then analysed this evidence using social network analysis.…”