Book: Illicit by Moisés Naím

An amazing book which i’m still reading; an in-depth look at the “other” economy, the underground economy or for some anarchist who aim for a global revolution via manipulating the “market”, it’s a form of “counter-economy”.

Basically the book details worldwide illegal trading activities especially the global smuggling networks and its massive networking, how governmental corruption allows the underground trade free reign all over the world and how it moves under the radar without being noticed, and how it is undermining the world economy etc.

For me this is the real “underground”, and most of the times it’s not pretty. From human-trafficking to pirated weapons components; these faceless traders work effortlessly nowadays, especially with the advent of the internet, wireless telecommunications and so on. In a way, I’m full of admiration for these wicked people, not that I’m in full support of trading in human organs and all that, but the methods used are amazing. The more stringent the borders are, the more it benefits the smugglers; as former regimes collapsed smugglers will turn the country into a haven for illegal trade; legal systems are always open to corruption; it’s a wild, wild world out there.

To have a glimpse of this network and its workings, do get the Lord of War DVD or the upcoming Blood Diamond; both are about illegal cross-border trading, with bloody consequences.

I’m still in the middle of reading this but to here’s a link to a very good review: globalguerrillas.typepad.com

Get it at Kinokuniya, KLCC. Price: RM58.61