Organised crime groups, criminal agendas, violence and conflict: implications for engagement, negotiations and peace processes
May 2023
A painted mural depicting men playing dominoes is displayed on a wall in Tivoli Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica. An attempt by police to erase street-side images of gang leaders. Photographer: AP/David McFadden.
Evidence Review Paper 03
Huma Haider, Independent Researcher
SOC ACE project: Organised crime groups & peace processes
PUBLICATION SUMMARY
Organised crime actors can be spoilers in peace processes or partners in peace. Policymakers and practitioners have in some cases engaged in a strategic trade-off – accepting organised crime as part of the political settlement to achieve short-term stability. However, the relationship between illicit markets and conflict can deepen over time, entrenching criminal structures in the post-conflict state.
Negotiating with organised crime groups and addressing criminal agendas in peace processes has become a reality in practice. There is, however, limited research on negotiating with criminal actors in peace processes. In seeking to address this gap, this paper reviews scholarly and practitioner literature across a wide range of research disciplines.
This review demonstrates the importance of creating a framework for engaging with criminality and organised crime groups that extends beyond confrontation – allowing for accommodation and incorporating a wider societal change agenda through transformation. This requires an understanding of when to address SOC and engage criminal groups in peace processes; how to motivate actors to negotiate, conclude and implement deals; how to increase the likelihood of positive outcomes; and how to mitigate risks associated with negotiation. Drawing on a wide breadth of interdisciplinary literature, this paper aims to provide insights into these crucial questions.