Crime as Strategic Interaction

Abstract

Extortion's social organization can be distinguished from that of other predatory crimes In extortion, an extortionist threatens to injure a hostage unless the target agrees to pay a ransom The target must cooperate for the exchange to take place. Extortion features considerable tactical maneuvering; control of information, presentation of character, deceit, the nature of the hostage and the ransom, and the possibility of repeated extortionate transactions affect the outcome Publicity and repetition pose special problems for social control agents, and officials discover the need to articulate strategies for responding to extortion Extortion offers useful comparisons to other situations of deviant exploitation and the use of coercive power.