Organized Crime in History

Edited by Mark Galeotti
(Rutledge, 2009)

      Our view of organized crime’s role in human history is often limited to the 20th century, comprised mainly of references from movies and literature. In this collection of studies and essays compiled and edited by professor Mark Galeotti of the NYU Center for Global Affairs at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, organized crime’s unique history, as it intertwines with the history of human society, is revealed and reviewed.
      In his own studies, Galeotti focuses on the issues surrounding the Russian “Mafiya,” an ever-strengthening force in Russia and around the globe. His view of Russian organized crime mirrors the theme of the book, which reveals how criminal groups have influenced societies—from protection racketeers in ancient Rome to the murderers-for-hire of the original Assassin cult. The authors—who range from criminologists to sociologists to historians—conceptualize and discuss the phenomenon as a dynamic social force that touches almost all cultures and all aspects of society worldwide.