Gangs of Russia: From the Streets to the Corridors of Power

[I]n her landmark study, Gangs of Russia: From the Streets to the Corridors of Power, Svetlana Stephenson finds an analytical similarity between the two types of organizations: like the Mafia, gangs in Russia are woven into the fabric of society. They have roots in the community and instead of challenging the established order, they reinforce it... Stephenson finds that most of her interviewees had finished high school, were studying at university (in some cases, medicine and law), or held professional jobs. They do not come from broken homes and are in steady relationships. Many are married. Some even belong to belong to political parties, such as the pro-Putin United Russia, and have relatives working for the police. Over time, a number of them become respected businessmen and even local politicians.

A recent and valuable contribution to this field of study is Dr. Svetlana Stephenson's book Gangs of Russiaa fine expose that contributes much to our understanding of the very roots of the reality of Russia 'corruption [...] violence and crime.'

Svetlana Stephenson once again demonstrates her excellent empirical research and in-depth cultural knowledge to produce a groundbreaking book on Russian gangs. This much-needed, sober analysis of the complex relationships and historical and social contexts of crime in Russia will appeal not only to scholars and students across a variety of disciplines but also, in its highly readable form, to the interested lay reader.

There is still much to be learned about Russian organized crime, and a key gap in the literature has been serious, detailed local studies. Now, in Gangs of Russia, Svetlana Stephenson sets out the workings of Russian street gangs in a way that enhances our understanding of Russian social development and the interactions among politics, crime, and society over the past twenty years. Her detailed research into the gangs of Kazan is new and provides a level of depth that is simply not available elsewhere.

This is a history of the growth and partial assimilation of youth gangs in Russia after the collapse of Soviet socialism... highly recommended.

This is a terrific book, based on fresh research and with a new approach. Instead of reducing Russian gangs to their economic operations or rationalizing them as a substitute for the authority of the state, Svetlana Stephenson analyzes gangs as a form of society. She sees them as warrior alliances, a perspective that enables her to penetrate a whole panoply of cultural forms of solidarity, ethos, leadership, territoriality, and gender not usually brought together.

Stephenson's account of gang life has much to offer, and the complications in pursuing this research may have been truly staggering. The result is an exhaustive - but never exhausting - account of the multifaceted nature of Russian gang life - including a fascinating section on the fleeting existence of a handful of all-female street gangs.