by Moises Naim
First published 2006
Moises Naim reveals how criminal networks have transformed into sophisticated global enterprises that rival legitimate businesses in scope and influence. He examines five major illicit trades that generate hundreds of billions annually: drugs, arms, intellectual property theft, human trafficking, and money laundering. Naim demonstrates how these underground economies exploit the same forces of globalization that benefit legal commerce, using advanced technology and international connectivity to stay ahead of law enforcement. The author shows how traditional government responses fail against these nimble, networked adversaries who cross borders with ease while authorities remain trapped by jurisdictional limitations. Naim offers readers a comprehensive understanding of how illicit trade undermines economic stability, weakens democratic institutions, and reshapes power structures worldwide.
Genres: politics, crime, social-issues, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: gritty
Paperback · Giron Books