An Evolving Gang Model in Contemporary Scotland

ABSTRACT

Young street gangs (YSGs) in Scotland are considered recreational youth outfits bound up in issues of territoriality and protest masculinities. While YSGs occasionally engage in territorial violence, they are nonetheless viewed as distinct entities from organized crime (OC). However, following qualitative interviews (n = 35) with offenders involved in OC, namely illegal drug supply, the author concludes otherwise and presents evidence which suggests that YSGs retain evolving capabilities. The author presents an evolving gang model in which the key sequential stages are outlined as recreational, criminal, and syndicate and argue that, aided by globalization, gang organization has become a means for gang business.

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Notes on contributors

Robert McLean

ROBERT MCLEAN is a final year PhD student within the Interdisciplinary Research Unit on Crime, Policing and Social Justice within the University West of Scotland. His doctorate focuses on gang organization as a means for gang business in a Scottish context. Other areas of research interest include drug supply, organized crime, and youth violence.