McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld

by: Misha Glenny

Published by: Vintage

Reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali

As the title suggests, McMafia is a story about the globalization of organized crime in the wake of globalization in other endeavors. Globalization has held the promise of increasing the standard of living for everybody, however the greater reach and efficiency of globalized crime has taken away some of the benefits promised to all. The main point of this book is that like the proverbial fast-food chain referred to in the title, organized crime lurks in every street corner in every part of the world, and trade – from consumer and industrial goods, to services – help subsidize (directly or indirectly) criminal activity.

The narrative shows how the breakdown of nation states (as in Eastern Europe), the evolution of rogue states, failed states and pariah states, has helped transform ancient trading and smuggling routes into large-scale super-highways for organized criminal activity. These organizations trade in not only traditional fare (such as illegal drugs, arms, prostitution, and human trafficking) but also in energy (contraband gasoline in Siberia), entertainment (counterfeit DVDs in China), gourmet food (illegal caviar in Kazakhastan), mineral extraction, counterfeit currency and financial instruments.

The book theorizes that weak states (those with too little oversight or those who are unable to protect their citizens), or intrusive states (those that regulate substances and pleasures its citizens’ want) provide fertile breeding grounds for illegal but licit activities (licit because in most instances, criminal organization exist with the knowledge of, or as an extension to, many governments).

Given the scope of criminal activity, it would be difficult to expect a book like this one to provide comprehensive coverage of such activity. This work provides vignettes of such activity, with each chapter focusing on a particular activity or a certain part of the world. It does not adequately show how organizations in one country work with those in other countries (i.e., it does not delve into how criminal organizations co-operate with one another).

The text’s verbosity and minute detail devalue the narrative’s vibrancy. The research is both in-depth and impeccable, and the conclusion is sobering: Criminal activity is ubiquitous – whether we realize it or not, and some of the steps we have taken to curtail it have actually allowed it to flourish.

Armchair Interviews says: A powerful 5-star public affairs read.