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The Vory
Russia's Super Mafia
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The Vory
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
The first English-language book to document the men who emerged from the gulags to become Russia's much-feared crime class: the vory v zakone
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Description
The first English-language book to document the men who emerged from the gulags to become Russia’s much-feared crime class: the vory v zakone.
Mark Galeotti is the go-to expert on organised crime in Russia, consulted by governments and police around the world. Now, Western readers can explore the fascinating history of the vory v zakone, a group that has survived and thrived amid the changes brought on by Stalinism, the Cold War, the Afghan War, and the end of the Soviet experiment.
The vory—as the Russian mafia is also known—was born early in the twentieth century, largely in the Gulags and criminal camps, where they developed their unique culture. Identified by their signature tattoos, members abided by the thieves’ code, a strict system that forbade all paid employment and cooperation with law enforcement and the state.
Based on two decades of on-the-ground research, Galeotti’s captivating study details the vory’s journey to power from their early days to their adaptation to modern-day Russia’s free-wheeling oligarchy and global opportunities beyond.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Mark Galeotti's The Vory is praised for its timely and comprehensive examination of Russian organised crime and its intersection with the state. Critics commend the book for being both scholarly and engaging, recognising Galeotti's depth of knowledge on Russia's criminal underworld. The work is noted for adding nuance and texture to the depiction of Russia as a kleptocracy and is considered essential reading for anyone interested in understanding modern Russian society and politics.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300243208
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 09 April 2019
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Illustration: 16 b-w illus.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 318g
Pages: 344
About the Author
Mark Galeotti is a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations, Prague. An expert and prolific author on transnational crime and Russian security affairs, he has also advised the British Foreign Office and many government and law enforcement agencies in Europe and North America.
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