Social Network Analysis of Criminal Structures

Abstract

The study proposes an application of one of the most generative approaches in current economic sociology – social network analysis, to Bulgarian criminal structures. The increasing levels of deviance and crime are particularly actual global issues in the XXI century. This process is even more relevant for countries like Bulgaria, where crime, especially organized crime, has been a key problem for the last 25 years. The text emphasizes the importance of knowing the structure and the way the crime groups function for increasing the effectiveness of combating crime. Based on the social network analysis of three cases of Bulgarian criminal structures, some opportunities to improve the policies for combating criminal networks in Bulgaria are displayed.