Book Condition: Near Fine, with unobtrusive and faded 1cm circular red bookseller's stamp at bottom right of flyleaf. Government of the Shadows analyses the concept of clandestine government. It explores how covert political activity and transnational organised crime are linked -- and how they ultimately work to the advantage of state and corporate power. The book shows that legitimate government is now routinely accompanied by extra-governmental covert operations. Using a variety of case studies, from the mafia in Italy to programmes for food and reconstruction in Iraq, the contributors illustrate that para-political structures are not deviant , but central to the operation of global governments. The creation of this truly parallel world-economy, the source of huge political and economic potential, entices states to undertake new forms of regulation, either through their own intelligence agencies, or through the more shadowy world of criminal cartels. This book contains the papers presented at a three-day conference in Melbourne in August 2006 about ?Parapolitics and Criminal Sovereignty?. It consists of two parts: theoretical perspectives and case studies. In his remarkable analysis of the Sicilian Mafia, H. Hess summarizes an essay of Charles Tilly (?War Making and State Making as Organized Crime?) as follows: the formation of States is based on organized force. A ruler strives for a monopoly over force against internal rivals (e.g., social revolutions) and outside threats (e.g., trade wars). Taxation is levied on the population in order to finance this monopoly. It is nothing less than a protection racket. The central purpose of a mafia cosca is the same as the purpose of political rulers: gain and maintain a monopoly of power (the ability to use force. Parapolitics, the deep State, shadow governments: Parapolitics examines the tripartite relationship between security (intelligence organizations), international criminal networks and States with a weak central authority and the ability to use violence. For O. Tunander, advanced western States have, besides a ?democratically elected? government, a permanent and more powerful shadow government (the deep State), formed by members of the military and the intelligence services. For P. D. Scott, the accountability of the policies of a shadow government is sharply diminished. It operates through deceit and becomes a primary driver of national politics. Case studies: Italy: The Mafia in Sicily as a Para-State (E. Hess) and the P2 Masonic lodge as a State within a State (D. Ganser). Narco-governments: Mexico (P.D. Scott), Afghanistan (R. Lee III) and Colombia (F. Thoumi). The Philippines: bossism: uncontrolled predatory mechanisms for private wealth accumulation (A. McCoy). This book is a must read for all those who want to understand the world we live in and then rise up and destroy the murderous bloodsucking mafia elites that rule us.
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