Borders and Security Governance : Managing Borders in a Globalised World Chapter 15

During the last decades of the 20th century, after the end of the Cold War, a process of increasing rates of globalisation has developed in the world leading to, among other effects, the intensification of economic, ideological, political, cultural and multiple social consequences (Kacowiks 2001). This process has caused everyday activities to be more and more influenced by factors and events taking place in other parts of the world; in the same way, practices and decisions of local groups and communities can have important regional or international effects (Silva Machado 2001). Unfortunately, the process of globalisation has also created negative consequences, as it has been accompanied during the last decades by the parallel growth of two phenomena, closely related to each other, which constitute a serious threat to the world's security and political stability. These two phenomena are transnational organised crime and corruption. This article examines the factor of trust and the importance of inter-agency cooperation as determinant elements for an effective fight against transnational organised crime. First, the links between organised crime and corruption will be explored to establish the necessity of confronting these two phenomena simultaneously if any success in the matter is to be achieved in the future. Second, the importance of collaboration at national, regional and international levels in the fight against organised crime will be explained. Finally, we will address the struggle by Mexico and the United States against organised crime at the border, as an excellent example of the multiple difficulties encountered in a relationship of co-operation between law enforcement officials of two countries