This book examines Russia's attempts to tackle the challenges of the new and increasing security threats of rising crime, corruption and terrorism that it has experienced since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. It demonstrates the close links between the rising drug trade, border problems, migration issues, organised crime, corruption and terrorism. Uncovering information not seen before by Western audiences, this book: shows how Russia's porous borders have facilitated the operation of transnational crime groups explores the specific features that make particular regions such as Siberia important for the drug trade and other forms of smuggling, analysing the character of the different criminal groups and networks, and investigating the informal links and collusion between these organizations and police officials considers the operation of corrupt practices in the military sector, one of the most closed parts of the economy analyzes the ways in which Russia is fighting crime, corruption and terrorism, and the implications for civil liberties argues that the extensive flows of illegal immigrants into Russia are creating ever more fertile grounds for corruption, crime and terrorism, while the immigrants themselves are often the victims of this crime.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has developed a powerful business community and a potent network of transnational organized groups.

Russian Business Power explores the powerful impact these new actors are having on the evolution of the Russian state and its foreign behaviour. Unlike other books, which focus either on Russia's foreign and security policy, or on the evolution of Russian business, legal and illegal, within the context of Russia's domestic transition, this book considers how far Russia's foreign and security policy is shaped by business. It considers a wide range of issues, including energy, the arms trade, international drug flows, and human trafficking, and examines the impact of Russian business in Russia's dealings with Western and Eastern Europe, the Caspian, the Caucasus and the Far East.

This book examines Russia's attempts to tackle the challenges of the new and increasing security threats of rising crime, corruption and terrorism that it has experienced since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. It demonstrates the close links between the rising drug trade, border problems, migration issues, organised crime, corruption and terrorism. Uncovering information not seen before by Western audiences, this book shows how Russia's porous borders have facilitated the operation of transnational crime groups, such as the criminal elements in the migrant communities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. It explores the specific features that make particular regions such as Siberia important for the drug trade and other forms of smuggling, analysing the character of the different criminal groups and networks, and investigating the informal links and collusion between these organizations and police officials. It considers the operation of corrupt practices in the military sector, one of the most closed parts of the economy. It analyzes the ways in which Russia is fighting crime, corruption and terrorism, and the implications for civil liberties, and argues that the extensive flows of illegal immigrants into Russia are creating ever more fertile grounds for corruption, crime and terrorism.

This book examines how the connections between the Russian state, business community, and organized crime influence Russia's foreign and security policies, including its relations with the countries of the former Soviet Union, European Union, Asia and the Middle East. While earlier studies have focused separately on Russian foreign policy, the evolution of the business sector, or the growing crime problem, this book integrates these topics to gain a deeper understanding of how Russia's domestic evolution affects relations with its neighbors. It brings together in an overarching conceptual framework the impact of large corporations such as Gazprom and LUKoil, and small business networks active in the shadow economy of separatist regions in Georgia, the porous Russian-Kazakh border and the Far East. Individual chapters analyze key sectors in the Russian economy, including energy, arms, banking, forestry and drugs. By focusing on Russian business in all its forms, this book provides new insights into larger questions of conflict resolution and the role of the private sector in international and security relations.