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Abstract: This paper uses The paper provides a theoretical framework for categorizing organized crime groups based on what they do—whether they produce, trade or govern. This paper then tests whether the internal structure of, respectively, a heroin distribution organization in New York City (trade) and a Sicilian mafia group, and the Provisional Irish Republican Army (governance) differ. Applying Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) methods to network data, we find the organizational structure of trade-type organized crime differs markedly from governance-type. The former displays a high level of centralization, an even distribution of clustering values, short paths and low homophily. Governance-type organized crime displays the opposite features. We conclude that the core activity of the group is crucial in understanding the organizational structure.

The Extra-Legal Governance Seminar Series is convened by Federico Varese and Zora Hauser. For more information about this or any of the seminars in the series, please contact federico.varese@nuffield.ox.ac.uk and zora.hauser@sant.ox.ac.uk