Final answer:
Organizational affiliation provides a form of social capital, encouraging networking and cooperation among individuals, which extends to criminal activities where trust and mutual benefits are involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organizational affiliation provides a form of social capital by reputation, encouraging networking that facilitates cooperation between criminals that might not otherwise occur. Organizations that people join, often due to shared interests or intangible rewards, can inadvertently foster an environment where individuals or groups can engage in cooperative endeavors, including those outside the law. Furthermore, within a prisoner's dilemma scenario, the better acquainted and more trusting the 'suspects' are, the higher the probability of cooperation. This dynamic was seen during the Prohibition Era, where crime bosses like Al Capone built criminal networks through illegal activities leveraging organizational affiliation. Meanwhile, transnational organized crime (TOC) signifies a need for international collaboration due to its cross-border nature and dependence on corruption, illustrating the shortcomings of isolated efforts and highlighting the importance of collaborative governance to address such widespread criminal activities.
Additionally, the concept of organic solidarity reflects the type of social cohesion that arises from the interdependence created by work specialization, which can also apply to criminal networks wherein different parties may cooperate based on mutual benefit accrued from specialized criminal activities. Hence, organizational affiliation can be viewed as a catalyst for both positive social outcomes, such as increased civic participation and reduced crime in communities with high social capital, as well as negative consequences, such as the facilitation of criminal associations and activities.