Customer Reviews

Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia: Russia, the Baltic States and the CIS since 1991

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This book was lacklustre. Just more of the attitudes you find in the Economist.

Unless you want a case study of wearisome prejudice and crazy theories, give it a pass.

I got this book thinking I could get some objective insights into Russia's severe economic difficulties throughout the 90s. Instead, I got a long rant against everything Russian. Particularly dubious is McCauley's sympathy for the Wahhabi bin Laden-sponsored Islamofascists in Chechnya who have been responsible for all kinds of atrocities. I guess their suicide bombings are justified, because they kill evil Russians and not members of the English Royal Family? Oh well. Sergio Vieira de Mello was an apologist for Islamofascists too, but they still murdered him regardless.

Yet another British anti-Russian book. We've heard and seen it all before.

The most tiresome thing is the petty Putin "KGB spy" scaremongering. It is time to move on, Martin.

Mr. McCauley amazes. How a man could apparently spend 20 years in a field and still know next to nothing on it is remarkable. One school of thought has it that either McCauley is learning disabled or is so filled with xenophobic, patronising Brit-hate he fails to take notice of the reality outside his prejudice.

His perspective is typically British - "Everyone is rubbish but us". His hated Russia has made Space Stations, sent men into space, built modern fighter aircraft and has an excellent educational system, none of which the UK can claim as achievements. Internet use is far more common and widespread in Russia than the UK - because the UK has rotting 1940s phone lines and massively overpriced phone billing. In Moscow, trains run on time. In London, trains occasionally run on time. Unlike the UK, Russia has a democratically elected Head of State. Russia may be behind the UK in the world of Fast Food, Punk Rock and Football Hooligans, but it is far ahead in other areas.

McCauley's book provides, well-written, interesting information on the corruption that riddles Russia's government, hindering it's transition to "market capitalism". However, it is strongly advised that the reader have at least basic knowledge of economic principles/schools of thought (e.g.Monetarists, Keynes, Smith) before reading. An excellent read for anyone new to the wild world of Russian politics, McCauley's work is not weighed down by extensive technical jargon as are other books in this genre. I definitely recommend it!

I think Martin Mc Cauley has produced a book that demonstrates real insight into the functioning of business in present day Russia. It's not a pretty picture he paints, perhaps even a description of bleak is generous, however it is a totally authentic portrayal and as such deserves to be read.