Scenario: You have been an investigator for the St. Louis Police Department for many years. Recent surges in cyber crime have caused your police department to consider developing a cyber crime task force to combat the rising number of cyber thefts in St. Louis County jurisdictions. The police commissioner recognizes that you are a top investigator and appoints you to lead the new cyber crime task force. The commissioner says to you âBuild a cyber crime task force. Tell us [a] what the greatest cyber threats are, [b] what you need to establish a cyber crime task force, and [c] what legislation we should push for to stop these cyber crimes.â
In eight to ten double-spaced pages, (excluding the title page and reference page) develop a cyber crime task force plan for St. Louis County in Missouri. Use research from the Internet and the to identify cyber crime investigative strategies and task force developments around the country. Identify techniques, tools, and organizational structures used by other law enforcement agencies to determine which ones will be most useful for your task force. Use the following outline to produce your plan for the St. Louis police commissioner:
- Executive Summary of Cyber Crime Task Force Plan (one paragraph)
- Cyber crime threats in St. Louis County
o What are the greatest cyber crime threats that St. Louis County is currently facing or likely to face in the near future? (Use data and statistics from outside the course text.)
o Which three types of cyber crime will be the top priorities for the task force?
- Cyber Crime Task Force Structure
o Which organizational structure will the task force utilize?
o What personnel and skills will the task force need to investigate the top three cyber threats?
o Which federal agencies in the St. Louis area should the task force develop relationships with in order to be effective?
- Cyber Crime Task Force Equipment
o Which types of equipment, technologies, and items should the police commissioner acquire for the Cyber Crime Task Force?
o What is needed to develop a cyber crime lab capable of performing cyber forensics?
o Why are these systems important?
- Cyber Crime Legislation
o In order to pursue cyber criminals, what legislation and provisions should be developed in St. Louis County to increase local law enforcement capacity for investigating cyber crime?
o Where should these laws be passed?
- Conclusion
o In addition to those identified above, what other factors should be considered in building a Cyber Crime Task Force?
Sample Answer
International Economic Issue: Competition for Critical Minerals
Description: The escalating global competition for access to and control over critical minerals is a significant international economic issue affecting the actions of countries and the balance of power. Critical minerals are raw materials essential for various strategic industries, including renewable energy technologies (like solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles), electronics, defense, and aerospace. These minerals include lithium, cobalt, manganese, rare earth elements, and others.
Several factors are driving this competition:
- The Green Energy Transition: The global push towards decarbonization and the adoption of clean energy technologies have dramatically increased the demand for critical minerals used in batteries, magnets, and other components.
- Technological Advancement: The rapid development of advanced technologies in electronics, telecommunications, and other sectors further fuels the demand for these specialized materials with unique properties.
- Concentrated Supply Chains: The production and processing of many critical minerals are geographically concentrated in a few countries, leading to concerns about supply security and potential market manipulation. China, for example, holds a dominant position in the mining and processing of many rare earth elements.
- Geopolitical Considerations: Control over critical mineral supply chains is increasingly viewed as a matter of national security and economic competitiveness. Countries are seeking to diversify their sources, develop domestic mining and processing capabilities, and forge strategic alliances to secure their access.
Full Answer Section
How it Could Lead to Conflict:
The intense competition for critical minerals can escalate into conflict between nations in several ways:
- Resource Nationalism and Trade Disputes: Countries with significant reserves of critical minerals may implement protectionist policies, such as export restrictions, quotas, or tariffs, to prioritize their domestic industries or exert political leverage. This can lead to trade disputes and retaliatory measures from mineral-dependent nations, potentially escalating into broader economic conflict.
- Competition for Extraction Rights and Infrastructure: As demand surges, countries may aggressively compete for mining rights and the development of necessary infrastructure (e.g., ports, railways) in mineral-rich regions, particularly in developing countries with weaker governance. This competition could lead to diplomatic tensions, disputes over territorial claims, or even indirect conflict through the support of rival factions within these regions.
- Supply Chain Disruptions and Economic Coercion: Dependence on a single or limited number of suppliers for critical minerals creates vulnerabilities. A country controlling a significant portion of the supply could use this leverage for economic coercion or as a tool in broader geopolitical disputes, potentially leading to international crises or the formation of counter-alliances.
- Military Intervention (in extreme cases): While less likely in the immediate future, in scenarios of extreme scarcity or perceived existential threats to strategic industries, nations might consider military intervention to secure access to critical mineral resources, especially if diplomatic and economic means fail. This risk is heightened in regions already characterized by instability and geopolitical rivalries.
International Natural Disaster Issue: Intensifying Climate Change Impacts and Displacement
Description: The increasing frequency and intensity of climate change-related natural disasters, such as extreme weather events (hurricanes, cyclones, floods, droughts, heatwaves) and sea-level rise, are becoming a significant international issue affecting the actions of countries and the competition for power. These events are causing widespread devastation, displacement of populations, and straining resources globally.
Several aspects contribute to this issue becoming an international concern:
- Cross-Border Impacts: Many climate change impacts, such as large-scale storms and sea-level rise, do not respect national borders, affecting multiple countries simultaneously or causing displacement that crosses international boundaries.
- Humanitarian Crises: Severe natural disasters often lead to large-scale humanitarian crises, requiring international aid and assistance. The capacity of individual nations to respond to increasingly frequent and intense events is being stretched.
- Resource Scarcity: Climate change impacts, particularly droughts and floods, can exacerbate existing resource scarcity, such as water and arable land, leading to competition and potential conflict.
- Climate-Induced Migration and Displacement: Millions of people are being displaced annually due to climate change-related disasters. These climate migrants and refugees can put pressure on host countries, straining resources and potentially creating social and political tensions.
- Security Implications: The destabilizing effects of climate change, including resource scarcity, mass displacement, and economic disruption, are increasingly recognized as threats to national and international security.
How it Could Lead to Conflict:
The escalating impacts of climate change-related natural disasters can lead to conflict between nations in several ways:
- Resource Conflicts: As climate change intensifies water scarcity, desertification, and the loss of arable land, competition for these vital resources, particularly in transboundary regions, can escalate into disputes and even armed conflict between nations sharing these resources.
- Climate-Induced Migration and Border Disputes: Large-scale displacement due to natural disasters and long-term environmental changes can lead to mass migration across borders. This influx of people can strain the resources of receiving countries, potentially leading to social unrest, xenophobia, and border conflicts. Disputes over responsibility for climate migrants and the provision of aid can also arise.
- Weakened States and Regional Instability: Severe and repeated natural disasters can weaken the capacity of governments to provide essential services, maintain order, and respond to crises. This can create power vacuums, exacerbate existing internal conflicts, and potentially lead to regional instability that draws in neighboring countries.
- Competition for Humanitarian Aid and Resources: In the aftermath of major international disasters, competition for limited international humanitarian aid, reconstruction funds, and other resources can create tensions between affected nations and donor countries, potentially leading to diplomatic friction and accusations of unfair distribution.
- Exacerbation of Existing Geopolitical Tensions: Climate change impacts can act as “threat multipliers,” exacerbating existing social, economic, and political vulnerabilities and tensions, both within and between nations. For instance, water scarcity in a region already plagued by political instability could be a trigger for conflict.
In conclusion, both the intensifying competition for critical minerals and the escalating impacts of climate change-related natural disasters are significant international issues with the potential to reshape global power dynamics and create conditions ripe for conflict between nations. Addressing these challenges requires international cooperation, sustainable resource management, and concerted efforts to mitigate climate change and build resilience.
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