Dealing with Terrorism, Corruption and Organised Crime: The EU and Asia

Abstract

After outlining why it is important to analyse and address terrorism, corruption and organised crime together, the chapter briefly considers definitional and measurement problems involved in researching these phenomena. In the next section, the situation over the past 15 years in a number of EU and Asian (ASEAN plus China, India, Japan and South Korea) states is considered. This is followed by an analysis of the methods used by states and international organisations (IOs) in Europe and Asia to combat all three phenomena. It is argued in the conclusions that it is often inappropriate to talk of either ‘European’ or ‘Asian’ situations or approaches, given significant differences between countries in both continents. But there are some contexts in which generalisations can be made. One relates to levels of democratisation and attitudes towards civil rights, while another contrasts attitudes towards sovereignty and principles. The implications of these differences on the battle against terrorism, corruption and organised crime are considered, and it is argued that, on balance, Asia has more to learn from Europe than vice versa. But in both continents, for reasons explained, states and IOs will continue to fight an uphill battle to control these phenomena.