ABSTRACT

Organized crime is the functioning of stable, hierarchical associations engaged in crime as a business. Russia serves as an example of the internationalization of organized crime. The normal functioning of a major world-power has been infiltrated and is being influenced by crime bosses. This chapter explains how and why this has come to be and reveals both the domestic and international fronts of Russian organized crime. The economic reform under way in Russia, the transition from a planned state-run economy to an open marketplace, is, with little doubt, of a progressive nature. In the public sector, the mechanism for corruption is infiltration; in the “private” sector it is tribute-seeking. There are two common forms of tribute-based rackets in Russia. The imposition of a tribute on small shops and extortion of tribute from commercial organizations. Domestic stability is threatened by organized crime groups that have effectively grabbed the reins of state leadership, through their powerful influence upon legitimate officials.