The Jordan Harbinger Show 651: Anja Shortland | How Kidnap Insurance Works
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Apr 14, 2022 Anja Shortland, a political economy professor at King’s College London and author focused on crime economics, shares fascinating insights on kidnapping and ransom. She reveals how many are kidnapped annually and the surprising economic incentives for kidnappers to act nonviolently. Shortland discusses the inefficacies of kidnap insurance, the dynamics of ransom negotiations, and why offering more than demanded can jeopardize safety. She also explores the role of organized crime in stabilizing this shadowy industry, painting a complex picture of a dark but structured reality.
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Express Kidnapping Gone Wrong
- Jordan Harbinger's friend experienced an express kidnapping in Colombia that went awry.
- Amateur kidnappers, unaware of IRA limitations, extended his detention, leading to a rescue.
Protection Theory
- Protection theory explains how groups in areas with weak state power provide order.
- They protect property rights and resolve disputes, even resorting to violence if necessary.
Corrupt Police in Ukraine
- In Ukraine, Jordan encountered corrupt police who were effectively a lower-tier criminal gang.
- A contact with a higher-tier mafia group provided a card that deterred police harassment.
