What Happens When Extortion Becomes a System?

That question pulled me in years ago and never quite let go. I'm Jordan Mercer — a writer and analyst who ended up spending an embarrassing number of late nights mapping criminal networks on graph paper before better tools existed. These days I channel that obsession into something more useful: clear, rigorous writing about how extortion racket systems emerge, evolve, and sometimes collapse.

What Gloders.eu Is For

This site exists because the research on organised crime — especially the quantitative and computational work coming out of the GLODERS project on Global Dynamics of Extortion Racket Systems — deserves a wider audience than academic journals typically reach. Whether you're a criminologist, a policy analyst, a journalist, or simply someone trying to understand why certain neighbourhoods stay trapped under protection rackets, you'll find something here worth your time.

Concretely, here's what you can expect:

• Plain-language breakdowns of extortion modelling research and agent-based simulations
• Analysis of how criminal organisations sustain themselves through coercion and compliance
• Case studies drawn from real-world contexts across Europe and beyond
• Honest discussion of what the data can and cannot tell us

A Word on Responsible Engagement

Studying extortion and organised crime means handling sensitive material thoughtfully. I treat this field the way a good surgeon treats sharp instruments — with respect for what they can do. The goal here is understanding, not glorification. Every piece on this site aims to illuminate mechanisms and consequences, not to provide a manual. If something I write ever crosses that line, I genuinely want to hear about it — reach out on the contact page.

Criminology done honestly can be uncomfortable. It should be. The discomfort usually means something real is being examined.

I'm glad you found this corner of the internet. Browse the research notes, push back on anything that seems off, and thank you — sincerely — for caring enough about this subject to look deeper.