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Russian Mafia In America: Immigration, Culture, and Crime
Does a "Russian Mafia" really exist? This book seeks to answer that question by investigating in detail such topics as the characteristics of the Russian criminal tradition of Vory v Zakone ("thieves professing the code"), contemporary Russian mobs, criminal activity among Russian immigrants, claims of KGB involvement in American crime, and connections between crime bosses and gangsters in both countries.
Drawing on research conducted in cooperation with the Tri-State Joint Soviet emigre Organized Crime Project as well as on privileged access to confidential information, James O. Finckenauer and Elin J. Waring particularly focus on criminal networks in the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania area. They also report on a nationwide survey of law enforcement agencies and examine major criminal cases, notably Russian participation with Cosa Nostra families in bootleg gasoline schemes.
The Russian Mafia in America is the first in-depth study on Russian organized crime since the breakup of the Soviet Union and the arrival of the latest wave of immigrants to the United States. It is an eye-opening expose of major players in America's underworld and a significant contribution to the literature on organized crime.
New in paperback with a new epilogue by the authors.
Drawing on research conducted in cooperation with the Tri-State Joint Soviet emigre Organized Crime Project as well as on privileged access to confidential information, James O. Finckenauer and Elin J. Waring particularly focus on criminal networks in the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania area. They also report on a nationwide survey of law enforcement agencies and examine major criminal cases, notably Russian participation with Cosa Nostra families in bootleg gasoline schemes.
The Russian Mafia in America is the first in-depth study on Russian organized crime since the breakup of the Soviet Union and the arrival of the latest wave of immigrants to the United States. It is an eye-opening expose of major players in America's underworld and a significant contribution to the literature on organized crime.
New in paperback with a new epilogue by the authors.
288 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 8, 2018
Interesting stories of the vory and how they operate. Historical pieces I was unaware of, and a different perspective than I’d anticipated.
Addresses what went on in Russia, the conflict with the Bolshevik movement, how the mafia isn’t really the “mafia”,...
I learned a new word- avtoritety
The author defines this as comrade criminals; although Russians today discourage the usage of the word comrade due to its negative connotation
Avoritety isn’t defined by Webster but avoritet was, and explained as having authority and nothing specifically linking it to anything criminal in nature
The section on tattoos was more informative as I’d known about the star and significance of having tattoos in prison but the kneecap tattoos symbolizing that the person does not bow down was new to me
Just baffled me to read there were 8000 mobs in Russia in 1995 with 32,000 people in them
But surprisingly there were 500 contract killings in 1996; I found that to be somewhat disproportionate
Ethnicity among the criminals was another eye opener I hadn’t considered.
The market economy and the mafias role as performing a necessary “function in a fledgling market that lacks regulations” was bizarre as well. The author addresses the krysha or “roof” protection.
Undocumented soviet residents smuggled aligns with American politics today. Prostitutes and hitmen among others were escaping from the former Soviet Union and were referred to as the Tyazhiki or “shadow people”. Some ended up in New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
It’s worth the read. I recommend it.
Addresses what went on in Russia, the conflict with the Bolshevik movement, how the mafia isn’t really the “mafia”,...
I learned a new word- avtoritety
The author defines this as comrade criminals; although Russians today discourage the usage of the word comrade due to its negative connotation
Avoritety isn’t defined by Webster but avoritet was, and explained as having authority and nothing specifically linking it to anything criminal in nature
The section on tattoos was more informative as I’d known about the star and significance of having tattoos in prison but the kneecap tattoos symbolizing that the person does not bow down was new to me
Just baffled me to read there were 8000 mobs in Russia in 1995 with 32,000 people in them
But surprisingly there were 500 contract killings in 1996; I found that to be somewhat disproportionate
Ethnicity among the criminals was another eye opener I hadn’t considered.
The market economy and the mafias role as performing a necessary “function in a fledgling market that lacks regulations” was bizarre as well. The author addresses the krysha or “roof” protection.
Undocumented soviet residents smuggled aligns with American politics today. Prostitutes and hitmen among others were escaping from the former Soviet Union and were referred to as the Tyazhiki or “shadow people”. Some ended up in New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
It’s worth the read. I recommend it.
February 6, 2012
An interesting if somewhat scholarly book that takes on the question of whether or not there is a “Russian Mafia” in the US. Russian emigration to the US didn’t become significant until the 1980’s but shortly after the media started reporting on the phenomenon of a Russian ‘Mafia”. The author’s (professors of Criminal Justice and Sociology) take the position that the Italian mafia is well understood and characterized by certain established characteristic tendencies most notably a hierarchical structure preserved over time, a relatively complex structure with the ability to engage in sophisticated crimes and of course, the proven willingness and ability to do serious harm.
The author’s explore the origins of crime in Russia beginning with the Russian’s habit of doing whatever it takes to get back at the state which was not surprisingly viewed as the oppressor. Russian criminals became codified and more prolific and intermingled with the rise of the Bolsheviks and their effort to overthrow the Romanovs early in the 20th century.
The author’s maintain that Russian crime is fairly extensive and violence is not uncommon the type of crime most commonly associated with Russian crimes are crimes of confidence (credit card scams and the like) and while some of the Russians appear to have a degree of organization they are not what we commonly think of when we hear the term “organized crime”. For that we have to rely on the Italians who not surprisingly get into deals from time to time with the Russian mobsters. In the end, the term Russian Mafia appears to be a stereotype concocted by the media but debunked here with ample documentation in a slightly scholastic approach that not surprisingly includes numerous footnotes. Good Fellas, Good times Russian style!
The author’s explore the origins of crime in Russia beginning with the Russian’s habit of doing whatever it takes to get back at the state which was not surprisingly viewed as the oppressor. Russian criminals became codified and more prolific and intermingled with the rise of the Bolsheviks and their effort to overthrow the Romanovs early in the 20th century.
The author’s maintain that Russian crime is fairly extensive and violence is not uncommon the type of crime most commonly associated with Russian crimes are crimes of confidence (credit card scams and the like) and while some of the Russians appear to have a degree of organization they are not what we commonly think of when we hear the term “organized crime”. For that we have to rely on the Italians who not surprisingly get into deals from time to time with the Russian mobsters. In the end, the term Russian Mafia appears to be a stereotype concocted by the media but debunked here with ample documentation in a slightly scholastic approach that not surprisingly includes numerous footnotes. Good Fellas, Good times Russian style!
February 6, 2016
Well researched and presented analysis of whether and in what form a Russian mafia exists, both in Russia and in the US. Scholarly book, so a bit slow in explanations of research methods, but anecdotal support and conclusions drawn are convincing and engaging.
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December 9, 2012like new
August 7, 2016
Bit too academic for my liking and not an easy read, the information in the book is valuable and if its a subject you're really into give it a go, otherwise go for something a bit lighter.
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August 21, 2012new
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews