These essays offer a wide range of challenges to the commonly-held views on transnational crime. Theoretical essays are balanced with empirical studies that examine organized crime in terms of its lack of structure, lack of permanent commitment to specific crime and lack of accumulated wealth.

While real societal threats are not discounted, this work argues that enforcement and policy efforts must be directed towards appropriate targets, and perceived threats must be more closely evaluated to prevent an escalating rhetoric of fear and, subsequently, wasted resources.