“To what extent can North American academic gang studies help us understand and explain the recent

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North American academic gang studies and gangland murders in Britain 's inner-cities

Introduction

Youth gangs have been existing all over the world throughout history Initially , the word gang meant a group of workmates . However , with time , this word attained a negative connotation and referred to a group of people who oppose the norms of society . According to Alexander (1996 : 34-39 , the word gang is currently used to portray a statement of defiance or identity . Youth gangs can be said to be youth groups

who possess an identity that involves engaging in illegal activities . In the modern society , gangs refers to groups which are loosely organised and control certain territories through the use of violence that is coordinated . This violence is also used within the gang to maintain organisation as well as control gang members . According to Short (1974 21-28 , gangs are diverse according to the nature of the belief systems and ideology that motivates and influences them . Some hate and extremist groups have acquired the tag 'gang ' due to their nature of operations which resemble gang activities . Most gangs have turf colours and hierarchy as their characteristics , though these are not very much emphasised . Symbols , codes , signs , special language , group participation and collaboration in criminal activity patterns are the characteristics that are most emphasised

In terms of the territories in which gangs operate , globalisation has created a new modus operandi , where gangs operate in the Internet According to Battin-Pearson et al (1998 : 67-73 , gangs have...