ORGANIZED CRIME AS A RISK FACTOR WHICH THREATENS NATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

This paper defines the terms of threats, risks and challenges in security and national security systems. In the modern era, the continent of Europe, which our country is part of, as an expansively accepted synonym for democracy and legal order, faces the worst crisis in terms of security from the end of the Cold War. Specifically, in that period, the security aspects were comprehended through a state-centered attitude, with an emphasis on the military importance of this concern, since the possibility of the outbreak of war conflicts including a nuclear war, was the center of attention. But, nowadays, the term security has expanded from military to other sectors that are not in a jurisdiction of the state. Beside the old ones there are emerging new security challenges, risks and threats, civil disturbance, organized crime, terrorism, migration, human trafficking, high-technology crime, pandemics and climate changes. In connection to that the paper analyzes the phenomenon of organized crime as one of the factors that constitute the most serious threat in contemporary which has a growing tendency to expand on a global scale and endanger the survival of people, economic trends, the environment as well as to endanger the established civilization values. Given the actuality of this phenomenon, the paper elaborates the certain aspects of the issue of organized crime, as one of the most serious contemporary non-military threats to both national and international security. The organized crime as a serious risk-factor for violating national security causes dangerous destructive effects in all areas of society. It is the greatest danger that together with terrorism and corruption is a complex phenomenon that is present at every phase of social development presenting a threat to the modern world. The result of the actions of these stakeholders is manifested through an interrupted social development, creating distrust of the population towards the state and its administrative bodies, blocking the reforms, and inflicting the financial damage, as well worsening an international reputation of the country, etc. The contemporary security challenges should experience a transformation primarily in the field of preventive action in order to prevent organized forms of crime.