ake over the nation’s economy. Bombings contract killings, and robberies are a common occurrence. Russia is a very different place from the early developing economy of the United States. The robber barons of the United States can be described as vicious. They made their fortunes by building and preventing others from doing just that. Yet, Russian wealth is achieved and held through violence, theft, and manipulation. Many Russians came to believe that this distorted form of mafia control is the normal free- enterprise system. This sentiment is reinforced when they see Western businesspeople and investors fail to complain and then comply with paying protection money (Washington Post C2). The Puget Sound Business Journal reported “the Russian mafia is the most Western-like negotiating experience you’ll have in Russia…unlike the slow-moving and fractured government the Russian mafia is businesslike and helpful” (18). The Russian syndicates seem far more organized than the legitimate government. The gangsters have a systematic method of retrieving “taxes” from their businesses under their protection. They use force. This is how they sustain control. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported an antidote about protectionism. There was a small store in Moscow selling groceries and other items, Vso Dlyah Vas or everything for you. It was one of the many new stores springing up in the new Russia. The store’s front windows were smashed; yet, nothing was stolen. A few days later the store was closed; the owners left town (1B). They had failed to pay the appropriate people. This is just one example of mobsters smashing private businesses for failure to comply with their protectionism mandates. Democracy in Russian has turned out to be a free-for-all of profiteering. For many, it brought increased poverty and despair. Krisha, in Russian, means protection money. It is surmised that ...
