Analysis of Organized Crime Networks

Masterclass

Masterclass by Francesco Calderoni.
Friday 27 September 2024, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
C-4149, Pavillon Lionel-Groulx, Université de Montréal.

Face-to-face places are available without the need to register.

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Summary:

What is a masterclass?

A "masterclass" is an advanced learning session led by an expert or a recognized professional in a specific field. In a masterclass, the expert shares their expertise, techniques, and experience with participants who generally have a vested interest in the subject area. These sessions may include demonstrations, constructive critiques, interactive discussions, and personalized advice. Masterclasses are often highly valued for the opportunity they offer to learn directly from an expert, allowing participants to refine their skills and gain unique insights.

In this masterclass, we will explore the internal dynamics of criminal organizations through an in-depth study of the Sinaloa cartel. Using testimonies collected during the trial of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, we will analyze the social connections and power structures within the cartel, applying social network analysis techniques. This research project offers a unique perspective on how interpersonal relationships and network structures contribute to the resilience and operability of a criminal organization. We will compare these dynamics to those of Italian mafias, identifying similarities and differences in how these organizations establish and maintain their power networks. This comparison will provide insights into the evolution of survival and expansion strategies among transnational criminal groups.

During this session, we will discuss the methodologies used to collect and analyze testimony data, the challenges encountered in extracting qualitative data, and how this data can be quantified for network analysis. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how social network analysis tools can be applied to deconstruct the complex relationships between members of these organizations, offering new perspectives for criminological research and the development of strategies to combat organized crime. This masterclass is aimed at researchers, students, and practitioners interested in the application of data science to criminological studies.

Biography :

Francesco Calderoni

Francesco Calderoni is a Full Professor of Criminology at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan. He is the coordinator of the Master's program in Crime and Security Analysis (CrimeSec) and the International PhD program in Criminology. He has been a researcher at Transcrime since September 2005 and has participated in several research projects as coordinator. He graduated magna cum laude in Law from Bocconi University in Milan (2005) and obtained his International PhD in Criminology from the Catholic University (2009). From 2009 to 2011, he was an associate researcher at the Catholic University, applying social network analysis to criminal organizations. From 2011 to 2015, he served as an Assistant Professor, and from 2015 to 2021, as an Associate Professor at the Catholic University. His main areas of interest include organized crime, illicit markets, corruption, criminal and preventive policies against complex crimes, and the analysis of criminal networks.