THE THEORY Creative Criminal Entrepreneurs and Their Unconventional Paths to Prosperity

As typological category, criminal entrepreneurs have a different modus operandi from most

traditional criminals. This study develops a theory of successful criminal entrepreneurs,

operating in non-hierarchically structured organised crime. Successful criminal entrepreneurs

cannot be described through classic criminological theories such as low self-control theory.

The theory of successful criminal entrepreneurs provides an understanding of the leadership

of criminal entrepreneurs which includes vision, leadership style and orientation, in addition

to their identity. The theory also provides an understanding of the operational approaches

used by successful criminal entrepreneurs in addition to the use of their social networks. The

theory of successful criminal entrepreneurs argues that successful criminal entrepreneurs start

their careers with a clearly defined vision. Criminal entrepreneurs then lead people towards

their vision with a charismatic leadership style, employing social and personal orientation.

The operational approaches adopted by criminal entrepreneurs for success in fulfilling their

visions include filling a gap in the market, brokerage, bribery and blackmail. These

operational approaches are associated with both the location of the criminal entrepreneur in

the network and the embedded resources within their network. Among the various networks

that criminal entrepreneurs are part of, they occupy both a brokerage position, and a central

position within their network of speciality, such as an illegal gambling network. The

embedded resources in the criminal entrepreneur networks include criminals, police, politics,

money laundering and gang capital, in addition to mentors who can provide the necessary

human capital for the success of the criminal entrepreneur's career.