Dark Commerce: How a New Illicit Economy Is Threatening Our Future

Technology has changed the fundamentals of trade, in legitimate and illegal economies, with the most advanced forms of illicit trade operating as if on steroids, tied to computers and social media. Dark Commerce examines how new technology, communications, and globalization fuel the exponential growth of dangerous forms of illegal trade, exacerbating conflicts, proliferation of arms and weapons of mass destruction, and environmental degradation and extinction.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 376 pages
\n Publication date: 10 November 2020
\n Publisher: Princeton University Press
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In the past three decades, technology has revolutionized the landscape of trade, encompassing both legitimate and illegal economies. The most advanced iterations of illicit trade have transcended historical precedents, functioning on an unprecedented scale, driven by the power of computers and social media. This phenomenon is aptly termed "Dark Commerce."

Dark Commerce delves into the intricate mechanisms that fuel the exponential growth of dangerous forms of illegal trade. These markets encompass the trade in narcotics, child pornography, the escalation of sex trafficking, and the illegal sale of endangered species. The illicit economy exacerbates numerous destabilizing factors, including the perpetuation of conflicts, the proliferation of arms and weapons of mass destruction, and the severe degradation of the environment and the extinction of species.

Dark Commerce underscores the imperative for the global community to acknowledge and address the existence of the dark market. It serves as a stark reminder that the global community cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this business, as its consequences have far-reaching implications for peace, security, and the well-being of our planet. By understanding the intricacies of Dark Commerce, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and individuals can work together to combat this threat and promote a more sustainable and equitable trade environment.

\n Weight: 458g\n
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 30 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780691209760\n \n