Informal Exchange Network within a Formal System - Book Report/Review Example

Informal exchange network within a formal system The proponent tries to argue the point that informal exchange network through various relationships could actually permeate within a formal system. The idea of Nordstrom about connection within the age of globalization is employed for this purpose. The entire argument substantially supports the very basic principle of Nordstrom about how crime is committed and who are capable of committing them. It is found that the resulting behaviors of the people could be tantamount to their kind of environmental orientation, which may not have been properly emphasized by Nordstrom in her argument. However, her general idea about people’s complex global interaction would actually suffice common understanding on why informal exchange is not hard to penetrate into any formal designed system intended for any ideal activity. Keywords: formal system, exchange networks, criminal behaviors Introduction A good way to start the argument in this paper is to first understand globalization with reference to its wide range of context. It is evident that substantial arguments are available in order to prove that globalization could be considered as a process in which people around the world are interconnected in different ways even considering larger distance (Lechner, 2009). Perhaps, the common understanding about it is that it substantially shaped the world. However, Nordstrom (2007) offered her own point of view regarding this matter providing her essential arguments which include the point that it is the people who actually shaped globalization and not the other way around. In what way do people formed globalization is an interesting subject Nordstrom emphasizes in her book entitled “Global Outlaws: Crime, Money, And Power in the Contemporary World.” Interconnection among everybody is therefore a significant point that one needs to take into account regarding the matter about forming significant networks to ensure a simple until a wide range of interconnectivity. Based on the idea of Nordstrom, if people create globalization which according to Lechner involves interconnection, then joining onto one another must have substantially originated among those who involved themselves with the network. From the simplest down to complex interconnection, Nordstrom believes that everything is possible just to ensure effective formation of networks that could have significant implication on obtaining power, profit and productivity within the bound of social, cultural, political and economic issues (Nordstrom, 2007). Understanding this may substantially pave the way for exploring the idea about what are legit or illegitimate transactions for instance. That is why Nordstrom simply argues that in a highly globalized world, it is impossible to trace who actually are the criminals (Nordstrom, 2007). No one could be certain due to the fact that the world is flooded with seemingly legal activities but the bottom line is that they may include criminal acts. For instance, Nordstrom have identified that business people are more susceptible to create illegal ways that seem to be legal just to reduce their taxes. Others may allow illegal activities because the point of justification may substantially involve many people to benefit from it such as regarding the lower prices for pirated or illegal drugs (Nordstrom, 2007). There are actually people who know this illegal system exists but remained silent about it. Normal people may be highly involved with these related criminal activities as they could not help but subject themselves to sad reality in the image of hunger, fear, inequalities and other issues with relevance to the inception of different crimes. Therefore, it is important to argue that informal exchange networks, made possible through different processes of social relations, permeate the formal system in all levels which facilitates the flow of goods. The following arguments could justify this point. Social institutions integrated with formal system Nordstrom’s observations on how people integrate themselves, and form a group or network were remarkable. After all, forming a network proves to be beneficial (Nordstrom, 2007). Nordstrom also argues that globalization is actually formed by everyone regardless of power. Based on this argument, informal exchange networks could actually surface. The reason is clear and this is due to the fact that everyone belongs to a social institution. A clear illustration of this point is the family, the basic unit of the society where there is a form of vital interaction or interconnectivity, and even learning many things associated with life. Social institutions could either be formal or informal. However, according to Nordstrom, the government actually mingled and so even formed interconnection with them. In other words, it is not impossible for some groups to actually implement their plans to achieve their objectives even if the entire process of obtaining them would mean violation of the formal system. One potential reason for this is the actual relationship that exists within a group. In a social institution various relationships could exist. It may be personal or not and even legal or the other way around. In the presence of what seems to be illegal alone could already substantially prove that it could penetrate into the existence of formal system. Nordstrom might try to emphasize that the existence of government corruption which could be potentially fueled by social and economic power is a remarkable proof that even informal exchange networks exist within the supposed to be formal system. The existence of social institution where individuals learn the values and everything about life might be too influential. After all, the formal system could actually be corrupted as it is carried and implemented by individuals who in reality based on the observations of Nordstrom are susceptible to be corrupted due to various political, economic, social or cultural factors. Criminal behaviors are associated with formal system In order to justify further this point, it is important to consider that since social institution is everywhere, then criminal behaviors would also be all over the place. This is due to the premise that individuals are prone to be influenced by the actual or immediate environment and the existing social relationship within it. Nordstrom believes that criminal behaviors could originate everywhere regardless of power. Thus, it is important to understand that even ordinary individuals or multinational corporations would always have the possibility to acquire criminal behaviors, for as long as various environmental or social concerns have become tantamount to the existence of one’s value or quality of life. So far it is not hard to accept the possibility that criminal behaviors could potentially exist almost everywhere. So, it does not also limit the possibility that it could substantially outflow within the formal system. In fact, Nordstrom herself believes based from actual observations that there are even government officials or public employee for the government bearing the very attitude towards incurring criminal behaviors. For instance, customs agents not being able to tell anomalous transactions could substantially be concrete evidence that there is an existing informal exchange network penetrating within the formal system. If there is no transaction like this that exists, then there must suppose to be no problems of the government pertaining to illegal drug distributions and other relevant concerns. People by nature are motivated by the environment Based on the theory of enforcement effort, opportunity factors, criminal environment, and special access or skills are major factors that could be associated with criminal behaviors (Mallory, 2007). These also could remarkably prove why informal exchange networks could permeate in a formal system. For instance, if the government does not have enough strength to implement substantial amount of punishment, then it would just be easy to initiate crimes on the part of the people, ordinary or not. This would become a good opportunity for those who might be looking forward to socio-economic or socio-political power. For instance, in the case of multinational corporations as reported by Nordstrom which were associated with potential crimes, the success of obtaining their goals was due to their various economic or political connections in the government for their advantage and achieving of monetary gain in particular. Conclusion Nordstrom’s insight regarding informal exchange networks, which are bridged by substantial relationships to penetrate into the formal system, is remarkable. The reason is that it simply tries to depict the very nature of humans which would usually end up with understanding the implication of being with a group and expose to constant social interaction. Relationship is expected to exist, but it is also important to emphasize that the resulting behaviors could be tantamount to the kind of environmental orientation. This may not have been properly emphasized by Nordstrom in her argument, but she generally expresses her point that it is the people substantially authored the complex global interaction, which makes every informal exchange not hard to penetrate into any formal designed system intended for any ideal activity. References Nordstrom, C. (2007). Global Outlaws: Crime, Money, And Power in the Contemporary World. London: University of California Press. Lechner, F. J. (2009). Globalization: The Making of World Society. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons. Mallory, S. L. (2007). Understanding organized crime. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Read More