The Pacific Islands: politics, organised crime and corruption

While organised crime comes in a variety of guises, this chapter argues that organised crime in the Pacific Islands can be best framed as a nexus between political elites and seemingly licit actors. The authorsargue that three changes over the past two decades have served to strengthen the relationship between politics and organised crime. The first is the systematic weakening of crime prevention and oversight institutions; often contributed to by powerful politicians. The second is the increasing and often unregulated transnational movement of goods, money and people associated with deepening globalisation, including intensified levels of extractive enterprise in some countries. The shifting nature of politics and international diplomacy across the regionis the third key trend. The authorsargue that these factors in combination are making it more difficult for elements of the political class to resist, and be investigated for, links to organised criminals.