For Seller

By: Norm Goldman

Author: Moisés Naim

ISBN: 0385513925

The 1990s witnessed a new breed of creative and ruthless criminal entrepreneurs that embraced open markets and freer politics on a grand scale. Sealants that once safeguarded borders now have melted away due to changes in politics, technology and economics. As a result, traffickers in illicit goods and services have benefited more than governments.

Each passing day brings a more urgent need for nations to figure out how they are going to combat this cancer. Moreover, they must realize that their traditional ways of thinking about world politics and international relations are ineffective, if they are going to succeed.

Moisés Naim’s Illicit explores the nature of the problem and why governments are not keeping up with the trafficking networks, the terrorist cells, and the parallel markets. Readers are given an extensive tour of the world of the modern traffickers and the manner in which they have hijacked the new world economy with their explosive growth. The author debunks the dominant images that we carry in our popular imagination that traffickers are only freelance smuggler-frontiersman or the "˜organized crime’ syndicate.

Naim, who is the editor of the magazine Foreign Policy, published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former Venezuelan Minister of Industry and Trade, demystifies some of the intrigue that we associate with this new breed of criminals as they traffic in people, drugs, arms, human organs, endangered animals, waste, medicines, software, music, video, apparel, and other goods and services. Moreover, the author explores the counterfeiters’ range and their boundless creativity in not only in the manufacturing and distributing of the illicit goods and services, but also in the manner in which they are able to launder the proceeds.

However, as Naim points out, illicit trade is not just about crime, but also it is causing a transformation of the international system, rules are being upended, and new players are now on the scene that are reconfiguring power in international politics and economics. This is all in evidence with the advent of international terrorism, spread of horrific weapons, "rogue regimes,” regional wars and ethnic violence, threat of environmental depredation, stability of the world financial system, fierce pressures and aspirations of international migration. According to Naim, "all of these and more find their outlet, their manifestation, and often their sustenance in global illicit trade.” Ultimately, the very fabric of our society is at stake.

What is quite ironical is that the traffickers have taken advantage of global industry transformations in that the entire legal and technological apparatus of globalization has helped them and given them a boost in keeping them one step ahead of their pursuers. For example, the removal of border barriers and the abandonment of exchange controls by most countries have certainly expanded the playing fields, while adding flexibility and multiple opportunities.

Naim is not ready to concede that all is lost and he does present some excellent suggestions, however, as he maintains, to succeed in the war against illicit goods and services, it will require more innovative and bold thinking and much-enhanced international co-operation. Moreover, it will involve sensitizing and involving the public in understanding that illicit trade cannot exist without licit trade, as illicit businesses are deeply intertwined with licit ones. It is a global problem that will entail global solutions, wherein governments must be given goals that they can achieve.

Illicit is an exposé of many themes that have been explored elsewhere, however, Naim’s strength lies in mounting a very coherent argument pertaining to the present weaknesses of how governments are dealing with the problem. It is an informed and essential read for anyone who wishes to have a sound grasp of the perfidious world of the trafficker.

Norm Goldman is editor of the book reviewing and author interviewing site http://www.bookpleasures.com and the travel site http://www.sketchandtravel.com

Bookpleasures is a global Internet book reviewing and author interviewing village. Reviewers come from all over the globe and review all genre. There are over 6500 sites that link to Bookpleasures and many of the reviews are listed within the first 3 pages of the Google Search Engine.

Norm also offers his own personalized express review service where you can have a quick review within 15 business days from the receipt of your book. To learn more about this service go to bookpleasures.com

Norm is ranked among the top 1000 Amazon reviewers and he contributes his reviews to several other Internet sites.

In addition, Norm and his artist wife Lily meld words with art focusing on romantic and wedding destinations, inns, and other hospitality properties. You can read Norm’s travel articles and view Lily’s art work that is always for sale at sketchandtravel.com