McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Underworld

by Misha Glenny (Goodreads author)

book data

211 ratings, 3.85 average rating, 60 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		27%
4		40%
3		22%
2		7%
1		1%

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published

April 8th 2008 by Knopf

binding

Hardcover, 375 pages

isbn

1400044111 (isbn13: 9781400044115)

description

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the deregulation of international financial markets in 1989, governments and e

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 563)

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09/18/08

Ericka rated it:

Read in May, 2008

In my International Studies senior seminar we had to pick a book that dealt with globalization/globalism and present a project on it. Naturally, most people thought to pick the obvious such as The World is Flat. After a quick Amazon search this book popped up and I figured it had to be good because Glenny has always done an excellent job of writing about the Balkans (my love). He did not let me down!

McMafia reviews different aspects of organized crime and how it is spreading. He begi...more

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06/11/08

Emily added it

bookshelves: not-finished

Read in September, 2008

saw an interview with the author on Charlie Rose - looks facinating!
http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/06...

And I just watched American Gangster over the weekend!

*****

Well this one has finally arrived from the library and I'm not sure I'm going to make it through before it has to go back. Its interesting reading but very dense and a bit depressing - an unrelenting parade of human greed, cruelty and avarice.

However, it is really interesting...more

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05/16/08

Edward rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Things I learned from reading this book:
Illegal trade accounts for 20% of global GDP.
If you want a hit done right and cheaply, hire the Serbs.
The fall of communism is the single most important event accounting for the rise of global criminal syndicates.
There are a lot of brothels in Tel Aviv.
Bollywood and the Indian mafia go hand in hand.
Park and wash your money in Dubai.
Nigerian email scams are the real deal (they actually do originate in Nigeria).
...more

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11/11/08

.50spiderbite Higgins rated it:

Coupled with the collapse of the USSR, criminal enterprise has become a global issue. Criminal enterprise is what propped up the USSR at the tale end of communism. When the iron curtain fell, many enterprising people who had made tons of cash by using communism to buy raw materials cheaply and then selling them at market price (sometimes at a 500-1000% markup, no exaggeration) expanding their enterprises around the globe. And that's just the first two chapters.

The book touches on ma...more

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11/17/08

Garrett rated it:

Read in November, 2008

I don't know how he got access to all these thugs and mobsters, but Misha Glenny bravely gathered fascinating facts and stories on the world of organized crime and lived to write about it. McMafia looks primarily at the economics driving the black market. Glenny discusses protection rackets in Eastern Europe, prostitution and money laundering in Dubai, and marijuana trafficking in British Columbia. Glenny starts his examination with the power vacuum left by the collapse of the Soviet Union (a vo...more

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07/16/08

Jamie rated it:

bookshelves: adult, just-for-fun

Read in July, 2008

This book grabbed me from the beginning due to my obsession with all things Eastern European. I learned of a "country" that doesn't really exist (Transnistria, a breakaway of Moldova) Lots about how criminals that you think don't like each other actually use those "hatreds" as excuses to work together (Serbs and Croats and Bosnians, anyone?)

Also, how war on drugs actually keeps organized crime flowing. If it were legal, nearly 60% of organized crime's income would...more

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02/05/09

Bookmarks Magazine added it

According to Glenny, organized crime currently accounts for a shocking 15 to 20 percent of global GDP��a statistic that only emphasizes the urgency of his message. Critics generally praised this ambitious, eye-opening exploration of international organized crime. Though they still considered the book informative and compelling (even if no "McDonalds" of organized crime exists, as the title implies), a few found Glenny's narrative leaps and descriptions hard to follow. This is due, in

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12/17/08

Matthew rated it:

(review of isbn 0224075039)

bookshelves: essaysjournalism

Read in December, 2008

I'm generally sceptical of books that purport to change one's view of the world, but when one of them does come along, its a welcome surprise. McMafia ranks one of the two best books I've read so far this year -- the other being Alan Weisman's The World Without Us -- in the very personal terms of having expanded my understanding of how the world works and the consequences of actions and events.

Glenny was the Guardian's and BBC's Central Europe correspondent. Realising how intertwine...more I'm generally sceptical of books that purport to change one's view of the world, but when one of them does come along, its a welcome surprise. McMafia ranks one of the two best books I've read so far this year -- the other being Alan Weisman's The World Without Us -- in the very personal terms of having expanded my understanding of how the world works and the consequences of actions and events.

Glenny was the Guardian's and BBC's Central Europe correspondent. Realising how intertwined their ecnomies were with organised crime -- especially in the political and institutional vacuum post Soviet Union collapse -- he investigated further, and delves into what turns out a worldwide network with international markets and global supply chains. Thus the book jumps from country to country, explaining briefly the history and nature of the mafia therein and linking it with organizations in other localities.

There is too much detail to go into specifically. The violence and exploitation described is hugely disturbing, and the causes implied are provocative, making me consider seriously how, as an individual and citizen, to respond.

A first reaction is a rereading of Russia's contemporary history, at least at recorded in the Western press. Putin's seizure of assets from oligarchs used to strike me as horribly anti-freemarket and bad for the people, but I did not know that post-collapse, Russia liberalised the prices of most commodities but not -- inexplicably as Glenny says -- the price of energy. So the clever men who would become Russia's oligarchs manouvered themselves into positions to buy oil at state subsidized prices, and sell it at world prices, and pocket the margin. Previously, the state collected the margin, and despite the inefficiencies and corruption, some of it went back to the people. Under the oligarchs, it went entirely to private coffers, causing surging wealth disparities. In a way, though Glenny doesn't say it, one interpretation could be that Putin has merely reclaiming for the state what was annexed by the robber-barons.

There is a strong sense that much damage is caused by barriers to trade and labor. In the wake of the USSR's collapse, the Eastern European states were left without legit ways of self-financing, because they no longer had a parent, but could not gain access the EU markets due the the Common Agricultural Policy that prevented the import of non-EU fresh food. To finance themselves, the state was forced to accomodate drug exports, levying a tariff (in that sense) on the druglords. Because of the state's bankruptcy, the police could not function, leaving businesses to depend on, and pay for via a tax-like 10% protection fee, the mafia. Thus organised crime became entrenched in the social fabric.

A second immediate reaction is a further revulsion against the use of drugs and prostitutes. Not that there was any good reason to consume such in the first place, but even seemingly harmless, why-not-try-once college drugs like crack, are unavoidably tainted by their supply chains. Who knows whose blood was spilt to get you that shot? Organised crime -- at least in drugs and women -- was, and is, driven by the growing market for drugs and entertainment in the US, Europe, and even in high tech white collar classes (or rich kids) in Israel or India; in a way, I'm not at all upset that the financial crisis will put a lot of these potential consumers out of jobs.

But that's a problem with the simplistic response of revulsion. Economic growth enlarges the market, but also creates employment opportunities for those who would otherwise be led into this business. And one can't remain untouched. Good money mixes with bad extremely easily, as the chapter on money laundering points out. Drug or arms money flows into places like Dubai (I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of it came through Singapore too), where it was invested in property, which, once flipped, provided a legitimate source for the cash -- i.e. it was clean and free to reenter the legit economy.

If you can't opt out, what can you do? I can't think of anything right now (except for being unimpressed if any young punk lawyer announces proudly they're moving to the Middle East for 5x more pay), but: I'm deeply impressed by George Soros' efforts (described in a separate biography) via the Open Society, to fund a range of projects, but including the strengthening of democratic institutions such as independent journalism and research institutes in emerging economies, including East Europe (he's Hungarian after all), Russia and China. Also incredibly important: primary education and healthcare, free trade and employment opportunity, etc. But perhaps the biggest, and most impossible, goal -- to help people learn how to live without being the massive over-consumers we are.

As a final aside, the book is doubly depressing, for the environmentalist in me, to think there is a sizeable chunk of people out there who don't give shit that the world is going to blow up, and because of this group, another, larger, chunk of people cannot afford to give a shit.(less)

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04/21/09

Garrett rated it:

Read in January, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

This is my first entry for this book that Austin got me for Christmas before his trip to South Korea. The subject matter is fascinating, inherently in my case. I have even had hope of pursuing this further once in graduate school. As Glenny states, “…given that the shadow economy has become such an important economic force in our world, it is surprising that we devote so little effort to a systematic understanding of how it works and how it connects with the licit economy.”

I ...more

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05/21/08

Brian rated it:

Read in May, 2008

Kind of depressing look at the rise of the organized crime across the planet. Turns out "free trade" and "globalization" were the best things to happen to the world's mafias since the fall of Communism.

Also, did you know that Americans are bad? Well, they are. Just accept it. This author seems to think that no one else on the planet has to take responsibility for anything except Americans.

Sigh.

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02/04/09

Thomas rated it:

bookshelves: crime, current-affairs

If you want to know what a challenge policing the global economy is, look no further than McMafia. From traditional Mafia-style extortion rackets to networking hacker fraud, it's everywhere. When the Soviet Union collapsed organized crime was there to take advantage of the shifting economy. Under-regulation allows criminals to operate with impunity, while over-regulation encourages smuggling and corruption. It's as if crime is simply a fact of nature, created in part by economic imbalance in soc...more

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03/26/09

Alan rated it:

Read in May, 2009

This is an eye-opening and shocking look at the burgeoning business of international crime. Glenny is an expert travel guide to some of the murkiest and most sinister corners of the world and he fills his account with colorful episodes and anecdotes. Even more valuable, he does a masterful job of explaining the political background and errors that enabled these international criminals to flourish.
Glenny is strongest when discussing the Balkans (his area of expertise) and the former Soviet...more This is an eye-opening and shocking look at the burgeoning business of international crime. Glenny is an expert travel guide to some of the murkiest and most sinister corners of the world and he fills his account with colorful episodes and anecdotes. Even more valuable, he does a masterful job of explaining the political background and errors that enabled these international criminals to flourish.
Glenny is strongest when discussing the Balkans (his area of expertise) and the former Soviet Union and its satellites. He explains how the United States turned its back on Russia after the end of the Cold War. As central authority fell apart, shadowy mafias formed alliances with former KGB officers ready to smuggle arms, prostitutes and drugs to a hungry European market.
Glenny looks at the rebel Russian enclave known as the "Independent Republic of Transnistria" between Ukraine and Moldova which became a virtual mafia fiefdom. Under President Leonid Kuchma, Ukraine made crime and criminals part of government and the port of Odessa became a key transhipment point.
We also look at the Russian mafia in Israel and the sordid and tragic business of forced prostitution of naive young girls from the former Soviet Union.
Next it's on to Nigeria, which Glenny calls a "Potemkin State" where corruption rules everything and where the computer scammers who trap greedy and ignorant westerners are hailed as national heroes.
We take side trips to South Africa, Dubai, China and Japan. Wherever you turn, enterprising and ruthless criminals are carving out empires, playing on the greed and stupidity of westerners and their perverse desires for illicit sex and drugs.
We in the West are the ultimate fools in this scenario -- because we are the customers.
The chapter explaining the nexus between Colombian cartels and the United States was the only part of the book I felt had been overtaken by events. President Uribe has managed to largely break the cartels and the FARC guerrillas -- only to have their role usurped by even more bloodthirsty Mexican gangs spreading murder and mayhem all the way to the U.S. border and occasionally beyond.
Here is a key lesson: as soon as one mafia is broken, another arises to take its place.
This is an important book. It explains how crime has gone global. These gangs may differ in the commodities they sell or the things they steal but they are alike in their utter ruthlessness and disregard for human life. They operate with incredible cruelty.
Glenny's theory is that global crime has been spurred by technology, the disappearance of trade and other barriers and of course the huge disparity between the world's rich and poor.
It's an upsetting book in many ways. Police and law enforcement agencies struggle with inadequate resources to combat the scourge. They occasionally score some successes -- but the problem only grows. (less)

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11/15/08

Lesandre added it

Read in January, 2009

The comparisons among global crime syndicates and their particular commodities (be it protection or trafficking of humans and goods) was insightful. In the latter 100 pages, Glenny reveals his main theme relating specifically to drug production and trafficking. This is the greatest source of revenue for transnational organized crime. Since the "War on Drugs" inception in the 1990s, drug usage has actually increased worldwide, creating an even greater demand and greater profits in the b...more

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10/28/08

Alistair rated it:

(review of isbn 0224075039)

Read in November, 2008

recommends it for: Peter Mandelson and George Osbourne

a silly title which i think refers to the global reach of criminal activity today ie Mcdonalds for people who wack each other , the book is a riveting trip through worldwide crime from gangster capitalism in Russia , cigarette smuggling in Montenegro ,VAT fraud in the EU , money laundering in Tel Aviv mostly for the jewish russian oligarchs, arms sales in exchange for diamonds in Africa , to the more familiar territory of cocaine production in Columbia and drug smuggling in Mexico .
a commo...more

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06/04/08

Mike rated it:

Read in May, 2008

McMafia is not a history of violence, the organizations it details are not motivated by pain or the need to inflict it. Protection is the motor of the mafia; blood is merely its oil. Protection assumes ownership of death, for those protected by the state the state may kill—so too do mafias assume the right to kill. What the state cannot, will not, or should not regulate finds organization at the hands of these bloody pragmatists. Drugs, weapons, slaves for fucking, slaves for work, and tax- an...more

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05/27/08

Randy rated it:

Read in January, 2008

Good overview of what's going on in the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Africa, South America, Japan, China... While reading this book, especially the parts about the former Soviet Union, I kept thinking that it's also probably a good look ahead of what it'll be like in the US post-collapse in a couple of years. This review from the UK Guardian is what sold me:

A photograph in this book shows three men in swimming costumes at some
resort. They are all capaciously built - tw...more

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05/23/08

Russell rated it:

bookshelves: to-read

I heard this guy on NPR and he described all these nefarious characters he had met while being a BBC reporter. His thesis on the NPR show was that organized crime has globalized with the rest of the world economy and is that much more nimble and frightening.

The book was another story though. It's written in this frenetic and casual way that is constantly interspersed with heavy handed editorializing. Instead of telling a bunch of entertaining true crime stories he details the connect...more

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08/16/08

Jon rated it:

Read in February, 2009

McMafia makes a strong case that crime is truly a global activity. Glenny describes, and analyzes in detail, several regions: Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Canada, and South America. By doing so, he outlines how local and regional criminal syndicates there operate and impact the local and global culture and economy.

After reading Cosa Nostra as a required reading while studying the Italian Mafia in Florence, Italy, I wanted to learn more about criminal organizations. I find...more

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01/01/09

Holly rated it:

Read in January, 2009

I will seriously never look at stories like the disagreement between Russia and Ukraine over the gas pipeline or the recent attacks in Mumbai in the same way again. Glenny does a great job of differentiating between different criminal groups around the world, and while he doesn't have a lot of recommendations, I was left with the distinct impression that legalizing drugs and loosening restraints on immigration would go a long way towards helping the problem.

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06/12/08

Davis rated it:

Read in July, 2008

recommended to Davis by: Charlie Rose
recommends it for: Everyone

A fascinating book on how organized crime has benefited from globalization. A collection of events spread among several countries starting from Eastern Europe going through the US and finishing in China. The author raises the curtain (just a bit) to expose the operations of the underworld and how it operates in parallel with our regular economy. It is amazing how deep he is able to penetrate the underworld and report back what he has gathered in this book. Provides a strong argument against the ...more

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