About
This website discusses neurological aspects of modern organized crime, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. Articles attached on the website focus on negative effects (social, security and biological) of crimes against natural environment that affect many aspects of the functioning of the human.
The material published on the website intends to discuss, complement and clarify the conflict theory by Thomas Homer-Dixon (Toronto School), who identified six environmental elements influencing social processes. According to this researcher, ecological changes lead to changes in society, and these as a consequence to various internal (intergroup) and international conflicts. Similar correlations between environmental changes and conflicts (both internal and the interstate) are mentioned by such authors as Peter Gleick, Richard Ullman, Norman Myers and Guenter Baechler. As it turned out, not only changes in social relations are dysfunctional, but also degeneration preceding these changes within the neurological structures of the individual. More information in the following articles.
Basic assumptions
The activity of transnational criminal groups is focused on intentional exploitation and degradation of the environment that leads to the following results:
- uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources
- reduction of economic potential and the increase of poverty
- destruction of the social structure in the area
- cognitive impairment as a result of harmful emissions in the immediate vicinity of community and landscape degradation
- neurological disorders that lead to wrong decision-making in relation to reality
- significant positive criminal feedback leading to pathological and criminal behavior
- possible participation of an individual in the structures of organized crime
Neurons and crime
Due to acting against the environment, organized crime not only destabilizes the social life of the area and deprive the country of resources, but also provides the influx of new members to their own structures (short-term and permanent). In a wider perspective, this practice affects the psycho-physical abilities of the population of the country, resulting in increased incidence rate of neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, and higher mortality in the contaminated area. Focus on the country territory of this type of activity leads to demographic, social and political changes, as confirmed by research in neurotoxicology, psychology, neurochemistry, neuropsychiatry and behavioral toxicology. The progressive and cumulative environmental degradation make people fall into a state of anomie (as performed by Robert K. Merton) and in the future may contribute to changes in the political organization of the state in the criminal state or failed state.
Studies on brain tissue have shown that toxic chemicals adversely affect human emotions and behavior. Achievements of neurochemistry in the field confirm that among violent offenders had significantly higher concentrations of heavy metals in the structures of the brain, and exposure to these harmful compounds is significantly correlated with the level of violence, apart from other socio-economic and demographic factors. It means that criminal organizations destabilizing ecosystems in the region contribute to the pathology of society and the further expansion of their own structures. Volitional aspect of this activity will be examined, and as a form of ecocrime, it will be determined by introducing and defining the term neurocrime. As a criminal act directed at individuals at the molecular level neurocrime (neurological crime, molecular crime) is particularly, although often underestimated threat to social order and political system, and in a broader perspective affects the nature of international relations.
Poverty is the mother of crime
Marcus Aurelius
The relatively low income and high unemployment in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are the cause of the black market in the region. Illegal exploitation of the environment is carried out not only by people with no income and without other earning possibilities. In addition, in the context of the region this situation is similar to “the resource curse” in African countries "resource curse. Western European countries are not only the main recipients of illegally acquired resources, but also have the infrastructure generating hazardous waste. Organized criminal groups make from that fact a large profit. Read more