Zoran Malbašić
ORGANIZED CRIME: A NON-MILITARY THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
Throughout history, the primary threat to the security of a state came from the military potential of opposing states or military coalitions. The last decades have brought us changed circumstances, in which an increasing threat to national security has been created by non-state actors. This paper highlights the negative effects of organized crime, which is a fundamental non-military threat to national security, and a constant and layered threat that is extremely difficult to identify and respond to it adequately. Organized crime is a complex phenomenon in modern society, not only in the wide variety of manifestations embodied in numerous criminal acts, but also in the fact that its actions produce direct negative consequences on the economic system of the state, and therefore on the most important state decisions in the field of economic and political relations, but also in the security sector. The author analyzes the manifestations and characteristics of modern organized crime, as well as the genesis of this negative phenomenon encountered by all countries of the world. Also, the multidimensionality of the consequences that numerous manifestations of organized crime have on the security of the state at national and international level is also highlighted. Finally, the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the theoretical study of this negative social phenomenon is emphasized, as well as the need for global cooperation to passivize the negative effects of organized crime groups.
