Comparative Mafia (in English), V.Volkov

14 lectures, 14 seminars, 8 ECTS

The course addresses the role of organizations with comparative advantage in the use of force in economic and social life. The particular focus is on the private enterprises that produce and sell protection and enforcement and compete with the state. Hence the class includes theoretical exploration in the political economy and sociology of protection enterprises, especially of those known as the mafia. Of particular importance is a comparative dimension – an account of different historical and national mafias. A large part of the class is reserved for a detailed account of Russian organized crime, violent entrepreneurship and politics of state-building.