Violent Entrepreneurs: The Use of Force in the Making of Russian Capitalism

Russian organized crime is a very intriguing subject.  While I lived in Russia I remember walking along a canal in the center of St. Petersburg near a famous church, the Church of the Savior on the Blood.  There was a police boat of some kind in the canal, and the rumor was that they were looking for a body, and at that, probably a body with cement shoes.  Later, while an intern in Washington, D.C., I heard from an FBI agent who came and did a presentation at the Barlow Center that Russian organized criminals are ruthless (as compared to the Italians, who are "gentlemen").

Vadim Volkov, in his book Violent Entrepreneurs: The Use of Force in the Making of Russian Capitalism (ISBN: 0-8014-8778-1), examines just how Russian organized crime's violent methods fit into their business models.  The book explains how violence fits into the business models of businesses, criminal organizations, and government organizations.  They are all, after all, involved.  Corruption, threats, and actual violent acts are prevalent, but they seem to get things done.  Volkov also talks about why organized crime has such a hold in Russia, with a special emphasis on the early days after the fall of the Soviet Union.

This book is quite heavy on the economics and social theory.  It is rather academic and features only a few of the sensational stories of gangster shootouts, murders, and high-speed chases that other books on Russian organized crime usually give the reader.  It is sometimes even a little difficult to follow, but if one sticks with it, Volkov's reasoning seems quite sound, and it is easy to see how the current mess that is Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States stemmed from these basic economic and sociologic principles.  Whether or not one agrees with Volkov, it's good to get a scholarly view to go along with all the made-for-TV accounts (although most of them are 100% true) that fill other books on the subject.

Miriam Tamika

In the last week, our lives have become busier than I ever imagined possible. This has come about because early in the morning (about 3:30) on the 7th of May, Kateřina started experiencing labor pains.  I, obviously, stayed home from work, and we were out the door by about 7:30.  Anna stayed with some friends in the ward, and by 8:30, Kateřina and I were at Anne Arundel Medical Center.  Labor progressed really well, and Kateřina was simply amazing.  She did the whole thing without any pain medication, and after only an hour (well, an hour and four minutes) of pushing, Miriam Tamika was born at 11:29 a.m.  She was completely healthy at birth, weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz., and was 19.5 inches long.  She is very cute.

Kateřina and Miriam right after Miriam's birth.

Another cute girl with blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair.

Everybody likes holding Miriam, but Anna and I are especially big fans of this activity.

We have enjoyed having Miriam with us and look forward to both the joy and challenges having two children will bring us.  So far it's been a little crazier than I thought it'd be.  Anna has really been quite helpful, and we are grateful for that.