Russian Organized Crime

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Russian organized crime (ROC) has matured into a predominant criminal threat to global economies and how it is unique from other forms of mafia in that it is void of a familial hierarchical composition and exists in independent pods, occasionally drawn together through mutual interests. The paper explores the conditions that cultivated the ROC in Russia, how a nation in transition has coped and contributed to ROC power, and the needed interventions to reduce the impact of organized crime in Russia.

From the Paper:

"The Soviet Union's history was characterized under Stalin's dictatorship (1930-1953) as strong and inflexible, with a tightly controlled economy. The resulting oppressive environment was fueled by corruption and secrecy leaving legal and illegal activities indistinguishable. The culture that manifested under these conditions, more than social mobility, cultivated ROC. By prioritizing heavy industry over consumer goods, a resilient portion of Russian society forged an illegal underground economy providing otherwise unattainable goods to the citizenry at high costs. Cheating the state was not only accepted, but also respected. Although under Stalin's rule, economic crimes such as these were punished by death, unyielding underground entrepreneurs persevered and became wealthy. Economic order relaxed somewhat following Stalin's death, and under the eventual rule of Brezhnev (1977-1982). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Firestone, T. (2006). What Russia must do to fight organized crime. Demokratizatsiya, 14(1), 59-66.
• Gerber, T. P., & Mendelson, S. E. (2008). Public experiences of police violence and corruption in contemporary Russia: A case of predatory policing?. Law and Society Review, 42(1), 1-43.
• Glenny, M. & McDonald, A. (2008). Gas and gangsters. New Statesman, 137(4886), 24-28.
• Goldman, M. I. (1996). Why is the mafia so dominant in Russia?. Challenge, 39(1), 39-48.
• Granville, J. (2003). "Demokratizatsiya" and "Prikhvatizatsiya": The Russian Kleptocracy and rise of organized crime. Demokratizatsiya, 11(3), p449.

More papers on Russian Organized Crime:

• Research Paper # 70786 : "Organized Crime"
• Comparison Essay # 121363 : "Organized Crime in Russia and Asia"
• Persuasive Essay # 94173 : "Russian Organized Crime"

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