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This article aims at providing an account of the social organisation of the cigarette counterfeiting business in the People"s Republic of China; a business that has been feeding the cigarette black markets around the globe. Specifically, we aim to exhibit the scale and nature of cigarette counterfeiting in mainland China, describe the practices and actors in the different phases of the trade, and examine the role of corruption and violence in the particular business. We argue that cigarette counterfeiting is one of the side-effects of China"s reform and "opening up" policy, and a feature of the country"s economic development process.

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This essay and review attempts to provide an overview of the situation of organised crime in Europe, drawing on official and academic sources. The available information is put in perspective using a classificatory scheme which distinguishes three basic dimensions: activities, associational structures, and systemic conditions. Compared to other assessments of organised crime, a more differentiated view is advocated. Cautious inferences are drawn on the social relevance of particular types of phenomena. It is argued that the greatest threat posed by organised crime does not emanate from the potential of criminal groups in and by themselves but from the willingness of power elites to enter into alliances with criminal elements.

Purpose of this paper The research aims at providing a comprehensive assessment of the cigarette black market in Germany and the United Kingdom within the framework of the study of organized crime. Design/methodology/approach The particular approach upon which this paper is based is a systematic, cross-national review of open sources, including media reports and government documents. The information gleaned from these sources is transferred into a classificatory scheme derived from the analysis of organized crime. Findings While similarities exist regarding the inner workings of the cigarette black market, interesting variations between the two countries emerge, including an asynchronicity of the developmental process and differences in modus operandi. In addition to cross-national differences, striking regional variations in the prevalence and character of black market activity exist within each country. This leads to the conclusion that a multitude of factors have to be considered to account for the overall dynamics and specific manifestations of the cigarette black market. Research limitations/implications In future research the database needs to be broadened beyond open sources. Practical implications Policy decisions with the aim to curb the cigarette black market have to take the apparent complexity of causal and intervening factors into account. The level of taxation is just one of several factors. What is original/value of paper No comparative analysis of the cigarette black markets in Germany and the United Kingdom has previously been available.