Thieves' World: The Threat of the New Global Network of Organized Crime [Hardcover]

Claire Sterling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 1994

The author of The Terror Network provides a chilling analysis of international organized crime in the aftermath of the recent political restructuring worldwide. National ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sterling already had a controversial reputation as an expert on international crime with books like Octopus and The Terror Network , but this bombshell is her most terrifying and significant work. Here she shows how the Sicilian and American Mafias, Colombian drug cartels, Chinese Triads and Japanese Yakuza have joined with Russian organized crime to mount a full-scale attack on all of Europe and Russia to plunder both--and are succeeding. This consortium manipulates national currencies, buys into legitimate businesses and corrupts government officials at all levels. The nations of Western Europe, according to Sterling, are so concerned with individual liberties that a huge body of law makes it impossible for them to fight organized crime effectively, while the political and economic chaos in Eastern Europe and the former U.S.S.R. has made these areas prey for worldwide gangsterism. Nothing will stop this increasing danger, Sterling warns, except close international cooperation and quick action. First serial to the New Republic.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In Octopus (LJ 1/90), Sterling sounded the alarm about the Sicilian Mafia; her current topic is the explosive growth of organized crime following the demise of communism and the failure of the "new world order" to combat it. Crime is rampant in the former Soviet Union, although how well organized it is remains open to question. Sterling may exaggerate the cohesiveness and concerted actions of organized gangs such as the Italian, Russian, and U.S. mafias; the Chinese Triads; and the Japanese Yakuza; but her thesis is supported by no less an authority than CIA Director Woolsey, who recently stated that worldwide crime alliances imperil many governments and threaten global nuclear safety. While not exhaustive, this is very timely and well researched. Recommended for most libraries.
Gregor A. Preston, Univ. of California Lib., Davis
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (June 23, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671749978
• ISBN-13: 978-0671749972
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,061,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Work that Deserves Serious Attention., October 10, 1998

By 

Coolfire (Nevada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Thieves' World: The Threat of the New Global Network of Organized Crime (Hardcover)

This book represents and remains one of the most significant studies of the threat magnitude of international organized crime available today. It is a shame that it is out of print and that it has not received the attention it deserves. Sterling's thoroughly documented study makes crystal clear the breadth and depth of control/leverage purchased with drug profits by international crime organizations acting as a cooperative international affiliation of predators with an objective of power and all that can be achieved with such power over societies little aware of their existence. Sterling's work is an important statement that should have received far more visibility.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly amazing organized crime book, June 24, 2002

By 

Thomas S Roche (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thieves' World: The Threat of the New Global Network of Organized Crime (Hardcover)

Claire Sterling does an amazing job of exposing the new world order of organized crime. Her references seem impeccable and the story she tells is one of world governments crippled by an inability to coordinate and cooperate to the degree that counter-governments (ie, crime families) are cooperating. As a result, the world Sterling paints is one where crime is rapidly becoming the single dominant force in world politics and economics.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Book Without Boundaries, September 27, 2001

By 

Astore Stargazer (Lancashire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thieves' World: The Threat of the New Global Network of Organized Crime (Hardcover)

For anyone who wants to know the indepth ramifications of the new threat of global organized crime then look no further than Claire Sterlings supberb effort. I have read two other of Claire Sterling's books and was impressed. Very few authors can boast such a talent for researching as Mrs Sterling does.
The book covers the networks of organized crime groups as she details their very important relationships with each of the other. Also what I found very impressive is the way she manages to get the figures for the numerous sums of money that is floating around so many the illegal markets. She also talks about the "Pax Mafiosi", something that Judge Falcone was aware of, the Pax Mafiosi being the new conglomeration of multinational criminal confederations, that is now the biggest threat to the worlds economy. The Russian Mafia are also mentioned to great aplomb, the mysterious syndicates that are now thriving following the break down of the old USSR. This book is an absolute must for anyone seeking knowledge about how the modern Mafia's are joining forces and becoming a multi hydra headed monster, that just keeps on growing new heads, when others are cut off.