KRIM2952 – A criminology of globalization

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

The course seeks to develop understanding of the central criminological perspectives on globalization, and crime control. Particular attention is paid to the social forces and contexts in which global transformation influence and shape the nature of contemporary crime, as well as transnational and international crime control and justice. Topics covered vary from year to year but are likely to include: organized crime and illicit economies, migration, human trafficking and smuggling, global policing, and the war on drugs.

Learning outcome

Knowledge, at the end of the course you will have obtained knowledge of the most central debates, questions, and ideas that have shaped contemporary understanding of globalization within criminology. You will have received, among other, an understanding of the following:

  • An understanding of globalization as a phenomenon, the emerging shift towards anti-globalization, as well as a number of controversies raised by the term.
  • An understanding of and ability to critically assess international crime control and policy and its intellectual foundations.
  • An understanding of the multiple ways in which global inequality shapes contemporary crime control strategies.
  • The changing role of the state and state sovereignty under conditions of globalization.
  • The conflicting and contradictory nature of the cultural dynamics of globalization, particularly as it pertains to issues of migration, culture and national identity.

Skills, students will:

  • Learn to interpret, analyze and critically discuss scholarly texts and form an informed opinion on contemporary issues and controversies in transnational crime, criminal justice and punishment.
  • Be encouraged to think seriously about the role of the state and criminal law in regulating cross-border threats and harms and the place and limitations of criminal justice interventions in producing safe societies.
  • Be encouraged to think about normative aspects of global interconnectedness, particularly as articulated in various theories of justice and in terms of criminology’s engagement with human rights.

Competences, students will:

  • enhance their capability to question and discuss urgent and sensitive aspects of contemporary social and political debates about cross-border crime and security.
  • enhance their capability to formulate and reflect on their own ideas about crime, social harm, security and justice.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

No prerequisites beyond the minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Lectures

Examination

Students are graded on the basis of a 4 hours digital school exam.

The candidates will take the exam on a PC and the submission is digital in Inspera Read about School exams in Inspera

You must familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to exam support materials, and the use of sources and citations.

Location during the exam and candidate number will be published in Studentweb about a week before the examination.

Read more about written examinations using Inspera.

Examination support material

This is an open book digital school examination. You are permitted to use any materials written on paper during the examination. This includes books, lecture materials and your own notes, whether handwritten or printed. There are no restrictions on marking up or highlighting these written materials.

No electronic support materials are allowed.

Rules for citation are crucial for determining whether the use of exam resources is legal.

Language of examination

The examination text is in English. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 11:46:36 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Bachelor
Credits
10
Teaching
Spring and autumn
Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English