The Organized Crime Community: Essays in Honor of Alan A. Block

In this review of The Organized Crime Community: Essays in Honor of Alan A. Block, the reviewer finds a thoughtful, academically oriented collection best suited to readers seeking rigorous perspectives on organized crime. The volume brings together international scholars who expand on Professor Block's concept of the "serious crime community," and its single biggest reason to buy is the breadth of original case studies and theoretical essays that connect corporate, political and criminal activity in a single interdisciplinary forum. This review values the book for its scholarly depth rather than light reading or popular storytelling.

Key Features

• Tribute volume: A collection of original essays dedicated to Alan A. Block, offering diverse scholarly perspectives that honor his influence in criminology.
• Interdisciplinary scope: Essays cover legal, historical and social approaches, helping readers see organized crime through multiple research lenses.
• Topical range: Chapters address subjects from corruption in the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program to money-laundering controls, providing concrete contemporary case studies.
• Theoretical depth: Several contributions revisit and refine the troubled concept of organized crime, useful for researchers refining definitions or frameworks.
• Global perspective: International contributors broaden the geography of examples, making the book relevant beyond a single national context.
• Specialized essays: Includes focused chapters on identity fraud, drug policy consequences and tribunals, which offer detailed material for targeted study.

Who It's For

The Organized Crime Community is best for graduate students, researchers and practitioners in criminology, sociology and political science who want a collected, scholarly homage to Alan A. Block with substantive case studies and theoretical discussion. Instructors building a seminar on organized crime or corruption will find individual chapters useful as assigned readings.

Those seeking a general-audience introduction, a narrative true-crime account or a practical how-to manual on enforcement should look elsewhere; the book assumes familiarity with academic discussion and is written in a specialist tone rather than popular exposition.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide range of topics from corruption to identity fraud gives readers multiple entry points into contemporary organized crime issues.
• Contributions by international scholars provide comparative insight and broaden relevance beyond U.S.-centric studies.
• Strong theoretical engagement with the concept of the serious crime community supports advanced research and classroom discussion.
• Dedicated chapters on tribunals and money-laundering controls offer concrete policy- and law-related analysis.

Cons

• The academic style and specialist focus limit accessibility for casual readers who prefer narrative or introductory texts.
• Because it is a collected volume, chapter depth and tone vary, which may feel uneven to readers expecting uniform presentation.

Specifications

Title	The Organized Crime Community: Essays in Honor of Alan A. Block
Series	Studies of Organized Crime, 6
Editors	Frank Bovenkerk, Michael Levi
Subject areas	Organized crime, corruption, money-laundering, identity fraud, tribunals
Approach	Scholarly essays and case studies
Geographic scope	International contributors with U.S. and global case studies

Our Verdict

The Organized Crime Community is a rewarding purchase for academics and graduate students who need a rigorous, wide-ranging collection that advances Alan A. Block's work on the serious crime community. Its interdisciplinary essays and contemporary case studies offer strong value for research and teaching, though readers seeking an introductory or popular treatment of organized crime should consider more accessible alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for undergraduate courses?
The volume can be used in upper-level undergraduate or graduate seminars, but instructors should assign selected chapters rather than the entire book for introductory classes.

Does the book focus only on the United States?
No, contributions are international in scope and include U.S. history and comparative cases to broaden applicability.

Are practical policy recommendations included?
Several chapters discuss policy implications such as money-laundering controls and tribunal responses, though the book emphasizes analysis over step-by-step policy guides.