Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia: Russia, the Baltic States and the CIS since 1991 [Hardcover]

Martin Mccauley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2001

• First survey to explain reasons why Russia took the course it did.
• Wide-ranging coverage of government, economy, military and security forces, intelligence, society and foreign policy.
• Covers all 15 former Soviet republics.
• Essential reading to understand today's Russia.
• Yeltsin's legacy examined.
• Putin's impact under the microscope.
• Photos, cartoons and tabular material illustrate the text and enhance information provided.

During the 1990s, with the shift from Communism to capitalism, the "roving bandits", big business or the oligarchs, stole Russia. They gained influence over President Yeltsin and his government and gradually shaped policy in their own interests. In the first comprehensive attempt to explain why Russia took the course it did, Martin McCauley names names. He examines the period through the prism of government, including Yeltsin's shadow government, the military, police, security and intelligence services. Relations between Moscow and the regions, industry, agriculture, social policy and foreign policy are also explored.

Martin McCauley is a specialist on the region and has published more than 20 books on the former Soviet Union and East Germany. He frequently appears as a commentator on regional issues on radio and TV in the UK and the US, and also acts as an investment consultant for companies considering investment in Russia, Eastern Europe and the Baltic States.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Martin McCauley is one of the few authorities writing in English who understands the shocking scale and range of the cancer of post-Soviet crime. His book is both important and frightening.¿ John Simpson, World Affairs Unit BBC

From the Back Cover

`Martin McCauley is one of the few authorities writing in English who understands the shocking scale and range of the cancer of post-Soviet crime. His book is both important and frightening. He shows in masterful fashion how violence and corruption have become as important to the Russian system as the politics from which they are not always distinguishable.¿ John Simpson, World Affairs Unit BBC

Every businessman is a roving bandit. He is always on the lookout for something to steal. During the 1990s the roving bandits, big business or the oligarchs stole Russia. They gained influence over President Yeltsin and his government and gradually shaped policy in their own interests.

`Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia¿ is about the extraordinary decade which saw Russia move from communism to capitalism in one huge leap. The result was misery for most of the people but immense riches for a few.

As the new regime of Putin takes hold, Martin McCauley presents the only full explanation of why Russia took the course it did in the preceding decade.

Martin McCauley is a world expert on Russian affairs, frequently commenting for television and the media. His many books include `The Soviet Union, 1917-1991¿.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Longman (November 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0582357640
• ISBN-13: 978-0582357648
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,531,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Absurd, February 27, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia: Russia, the Baltic States and the CIS since 1991 (Hardcover)

Yet another British anti-Russian book. We've heard and seen it all before.

The most tiresome thing is the petty Putin "KGB spy" scaremongering. It is time to move on, Martin.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of Money, August 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia: Russia, the Baltic States and the CIS since 1991 (Hardcover)

I got this book thinking I could get some objective insights into Russia's severe economic difficulties throughout the 90s. Instead, I got a long rant against everything Russian. Particularly dubious is McCauley's sympathy for the Wahhabi bin Laden-sponsored Islamofascists in Chechnya who have been responsible for all kinds of atrocities. I guess their suicide bombings are justified, because they kill evil Russians and not members of the English Royal Family? Oh well. Sergio Vieira de Mello was an apologist for Islamofascists too, but they still murdered him regardless.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Amazing., December 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia: Russia, the Baltic States and the CIS since 1991 (Hardcover)

Mr. McCauley amazes. How a man could apparently spend 20 years in a field and still know next to nothing on it is remarkable. One school of thought has it that either McCauley is learning disabled or is so filled with xenophobic, patronising Brit-hate he fails to take notice of the reality outside his prejudice.

His perspective is typically British - "Everyone is rubbish but us". His hated Russia has made Space Stations, sent men into space, built modern fighter aircraft and has an excellent educational system, none of which the UK can claim as achievements. Internet use is far more common and widespread in Russia than the UK - because the UK has rotting 1940s phone lines and massively overpriced phone billing. In Moscow, trains run on time. In London, trains occasionally run on time. Unlike the UK, Russia has a democratically elected Head of State. Russia may be behind the UK in the world of Fast Food, Punk Rock and Football Hooligans, but it is far ahead in other areas.