McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld by Misha Glenny

McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld by Misha Glenny is an exploration of the global criminal underworld, its structures and operations, and its place in the world today.

The book begins with an introduction to the complex network of crime and corruption that characterizes the contemporary criminal underworld. Glenny examines the many different forms of illicit activity occurring in different parts of the world, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorism, and cybercrime. He then provides a history of the criminal underworld, exploring how transnational criminal networks have evolved over time and how they function.

The bulk of the book is devoted to Glenny's travels around the world, visiting a range of criminal organizations from the Colombian drug cartels to the Russian mafia. He highlights how each organization operates and their methods for avoiding detection by law enforcement and making their activities more efficient. He also visits a variety of crime victims, giving a stark and poignant insight into the human cost of these activities.

Glenny also explores the wider geopolitical implications of organized crime and its current role in international relations. He highlights the role of criminal networks in fueling political unrest, as well as the complex relationship between states, corporations, and criminal enterprises.

A major theme of the book is the idea of ‘McMafia', which Glenny defines as ‘official and unofficial relations between the economic elite and criminal gangs’. He argues that this type of collusion between legal and illegal actors is becoming increasingly common, creating a situation in which powerful individuals are able to evade prosecution by relying on connections with criminals.

The book concludes with a look at the various strategies available to combat this global problem and a reflection on the wider implications of criminal networks. Ultimately, Glenny suggests that unless we address the wider structural issues driving the demand for illicit activities, then the criminal underworld will continue to thrive.

McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld is an highly informative, insightful, and engrossing book. With a combination of academic research, first hand experiences, and interviews, Glenny presents a vivid picture of a complex and globalized criminal underworld. A must-read for anyone interested in organized crime, its implications on geopolitics, and its potential solutions.