Conspiratorial Organizations as standard MO for the Deep State

[metamars]

From Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Government-Shadows-Parapolitics-Criminal-Sovereignty/dp/0745326242/ref=ed_oe_h)

Government of the Shadows: Parapolitics and Criminal Sovereignty (Hardcover)

Book Description
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.

Table of Contents:

PART 1: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
1) Deconstructing the Shadows
2) Democratic State vs. Deep State: Approaching the Dual State of the West
3) Governing Through Globalised Crime
4) Prospering from Crime: Money Laundering and Financial Crises
5) The Shadow Economy: markets, Crime and the State
6) Transnational Crime and Global Illicit Economies
7) Redefining Statehood in the Gobal Periphary


PART II: CASE STUDIES
8) The Sicilian Mafia: Parastate and Adventrue Capitalism
9) Drugs, Anti-communism and Extra-legal Repression in Mexico
10) Parapolitics and Afghanistan
11) From Drug Lords to Warlords: Illegal Drugs and the 'Unintended' Consequences of Drug Policies in Colombia
12) Covert Netherworld: Clandestine Services and Criminal Syndicates in Shaping the Philippine State
13) Beyond Democratic Checks and Balances: The 'Propaganda Due' Masonic Lodge and the CIA in Italy's First Republic

====================

I haven't read the book, so can't comment directly on it. Softcover comes out this December.

[JimBenArm]

I haven't read the book, so can't comment directly on it.
So what was the point of this, then?

[metamars]

So what was the point of this, then?

AFAIK, there are very few books of this nature. I would think that if you are interested in the subject of conspiracies in a serious way, and have the time, checking out the book I mention is something that would interest you.

[Brainache]

AFAIK, there are very few books of this nature. I would think that if you are interested in the subject of conspiracies in a serious way, and have the time, checking out the book I mention is something that would interest you.

That would be like having a serious interest in the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny and buying a big heavy book about just how they manage to do all that stuff with kid's teeth. A bit silly really.

[Cl1mh4224rd]

That would be like having a serious interest in the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny and buying a big heavy book about just how they manage to do all that stuff with kid's teeth. A bit silly really.


I can already hear, "Are you suggesting there's no such thing as conspiracies?"

[Drudgewire]

Well if you can't trust a guy who writes christian suspense novels (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/133569/suspense_author_eric_wilson_talks_about.html?cat=3 8) to have a thorough understanding of how the world works, who can you trust? :rolleyes:

[dudalb]

Another crap conspiracy theory book.
And a waste of a perfectly good tree for the paper.

[Alareth]

Another crap conspiracy theory book.
And a waste of a perfectly good tree for the paper.


Obviously a tool of the anti-tree conspiracy

[INRM]

I'm not sure how true this book is, but the concept doesn't sound too far out there

[Klimax]

I'm not sure how true this book is, but the concept doesn't sound too far out there

True,it doesn't sound.It is far out there.

[metamars]

That would be like having a serious interest in the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny and buying a big heavy book about just how they manage to do all that stuff with kid's teeth. A bit silly really.

Wow, what a powerful analogy. Totally convincing.

[Caustic Logic]

True,it doesn't sound.It is far out there.

It's insane, judging by the contents, proposing that large amounts of money and power obtained illicitly (in an age where so much is illicit) might become concentrated and play its hand in politics? That's insane! Drug cartels in Colombia? Sicilian Mafia? What, the Pope's involved? Next thing we'll be talking corporations doing the same with legal-ish money, or the state getting used to it and taking kickbacks, or even using the criminal networks to take down enemies, or cause useful crises for political ends. Totally batpoo insane. Tooth Fairy wouldn't even believe in this stuff, even if the Easter Bunny told her all about it. Most ridiculous idea ever.

Plus maybe this nuts idea wasn't written about quite right, I can't say unless I've looked.
:boggled:

[theprestige]

For some conspiracies there is evidence. For others, not so much.

We know quite a bit about the Mafia (Sicilian and otherwise), because in spite of their conspiratorial nature, they've left vast amounts of evidence--physical evidence, documents, informants and whistleblowers, etc.--regarding their activities all over the world.

We know nothing at all about the "Masonic Lodge" as a conspiratorial "Deep State", because for some reason it hasn't really left any evidence that it's anything other than a private social club with silly initiation customs.

Unless I'm wrong. If this book offers Mafia-level evidence about the Mason's, I'll be more than happy to reconsider my opinion.

[dudalb]

We know quite a bit about the Mafia (Sicilian and otherwise), because in spite of their conspiratorial nature, they've left vast amounts of evidence--physical evidence, documents, informants and whistleblowers, etc.--regarding their activities all over the world.

Not to mention bodies......

[Caustic Logic]

Unless I'm wrong. If this book offers Mafia-level evidence about the Mason's, I'll be more than happy to reconsider my opinion.

Apologies, I do see now that a Masonic Lodge is mentioned in the contents. Now my sarcasm above becomes true. There's nothing conspiratorial that has ever happened in or around a Masonic Lodge, sillies! Book is all bunk.

No, I guess that's half-sarcastic. 3/4. 7/8. Yeah, that's about right.

[Klimax]

It's insane, judging by the contents, proposing that large amounts of money and power obtained illicitly (in an age where so much is illicit) might become concentrated and play its hand in politics? That's insane! Drug cartels in Colombia? Sicilian Mafia? What, the Pope's involved? Next thing we'll be talking corporations doing the same with legal-ish money, or the state getting used to it and taking kickbacks, or even using the criminal networks to take down enemies, or cause useful crises for political ends. Totally batpoo insane. Tooth Fairy wouldn't even believe in this stuff, even if the Easter Bunny told her all about it. Most ridiculous idea ever.

Plus maybe this nuts idea wasn't written about quite right, I can't say unless I've looked.
:boggled:

I am afraid that insanity is too weak word.

[KoihimeNakamura]

Tell me that's faintly sarcastic..