General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe real McMafia: the rise of the oligarch and a new world of global crime
This is from the Sunday Times of London. You can read the article by entering a name and email address. No credit card is required.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-real-mcmafia-the-rise-of-the-oligarch-and-a-new-world-of-global-crime-rlljbpcw8
The collapse of the Soviet Union is the single most important cause of the exponential growth in organised crime that we have seen around the world in the last two decades. Almost overnight, it provoked a chaotic scramble for riches and survival. From the bitter wars of the Caucasus to the lethal shoot-outs in towns and cities, this was a deadly environment as a new class of capitalist exploited the vacuum of power by seizing whole industries and raiding the state coffers. Accompanied by an orgy of consumption and decadent behaviour, the like of which was last witnessed a century ago under Tsar Nicholas, it sucked almost every citizen into its vortex of violence. Even the KGB and the Red Army quickly became embroiled in this spectacular nightmare, whose repercussions travelled well beyond the Soviet Unions borders into all continents of the world, as money poured out of the country in the search for safe havens. Throbbing at the heart of these extraordinary events was Moscow.
I had been visiting the Soviet capital since the early Seventies, and was always struck by how joyless it seemed. Now it was unrecognisable even since my last visit in 1991. The grandiose buildings were the same, but the sudden energy and the suppurating wealth were too much to grasp. This was a fantasy Russia. I spent an evening at a new restaurant, eating food that would have garnered Michelin stars. I was flabbergasted by each mouthful, simply unable to conceive that this was indeed the reinforced- black-breaded and watery-souped Moscow that I remembered. Only the overweening brusqueness and a cheerful indifference to anything non-Russian remained constant.
In two years. Moscow had been transformed into a breathtaking Babylon of guns, enterprise, money, violence and fun.
![](du4img/smicon-reply-new.gif)
Me.
(35,454 posts)The fight has been enjoined and with transparency, they will lose.
Irish_Dem
(47,131 posts)Last edited Sat Jan 13, 2018, 12:41 PM - Edit history (1)
And yes it is now out in the open.
I hope sunshine disinfects.
RKP5637
(67,111 posts)best for the country and the people. One only has to watch congress in action a bit to see this. Congress is a manipulative octopus to often enhance personal wealth and power.
Irish_Dem
(47,131 posts)Irish_Dem
(47,131 posts)Violent place as I recall.
Johnny2X2X
(19,066 posts)About 110 families control 99% of all the wealth in Russia. 80% of the population lives in poverty. Despite this, because Putin has control over the media his approval ratings remain very high.
Russia is not a failed state, it's a totalitarian criminalized state. It's flat out what they want America to look like. Gays, minorities, and dissidents can be imprisoned and killed with impunity. Girls are bought and sold for sex by the thousands. The drug trade is both run for profit and policed for profit by the government. It's a nightmare for 99% of the people and Babylon for the 1%.
Russia is their goal, keep that in mind always.