Martin McCauley is one of the few authorities writing in English who understands the shocking scale and range of the cancer of post-Soviet crime. His book is both important and frightening. He shows in masterful fashion how violence and corruption have become as important to the Russian system as the politics from which they are not always distinguishable. John Simpson, World Affairs Unit BBC

Every businessman is a roving bandit. He is always on the lookout for something to steal. During the 1990s the roving bandits, big business or the oligarchs stole Russia. They gained influence over President Yeltsin and his government and gradually shaped policy in their own interests.

Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia is about the extraordinary decade which saw Russia move from communism to capitalism in one huge leap. The result was misery for most of the people but immense riches for a few.

As the new regime of Putin takes hold, Martin McCauley presents the only full explanation of why Russia took the course it did in the preceding decade.

Martin McCauley is a world expert on Russian affairs, frequently commenting for television and the media. His many books include The Soviet Union, 1917-1991 .

List of Maps, Figure and Tables, Preface, , Map 1: The Russian Federation, Chapter 1 How and Why Did It Happen?, Chapter 2 Brilliant Tactical but Disastrous Strategic Policies: the Gorbachev Era, Chapter 3 Tsar Boris the Bruiser: the First Presidency, 1991-96, Chapter 4 Tsar Boris the Boozer: the Second Presidency, 1996-99, Chapter 5 The Tsar's Court: The Presidential Administration, the Security Council and the Government, Chapter 6 Colonels and Spies: Defence, Internal Affairs and the Security Forces, Chapter 7 Moscow Does Not Rule, OK? Federalism and the Regions , Chapter 8 Bandit Capitalism, Chapter 9 Agriculture: the Peasants Stay Poor, Chapter 10 A Society in Crisis, Chapter 11 Foreign Policy: Will the Empire Strike Back? , Chapter 12 Success Not Failure: the Baltic States, Chapter 13 Will the Imams Return? the Commonwealth of Independent States , Epilogue: The Spy Who Took Over Russia: Vladimir Putin, Bibliography, Index

Martin McCauley is a world expert on Russian affairs, frequently commenting for television and the media. His many books include The Soviet Union, 1917-1991.