Homo Criminalis: How Crime Organises the World

Crime doesn't just pay—it reveals. In this provocative and eye-opening investigation, renowned expert Mark Galeotti argues that the evolution of the underworld is not just a side-story to human progress, but a fundamental driver of it.

About the Book: What we choose to ban, penalize, or prosecute tells the true story of who we are. Homo Criminalis takes readers on a global journey through history, from the banditry of ancient China and tea smuggling in eighteenth-century England to the cocaine submarines and high-tech cyber-crimes of the 21st century.

Far from being a mere aberration or a marginal nuisance, organized crime has acted as a persistent shadow-partner to the state. Mark Galeotti expertly reveals how the power structures and struggles within the criminal world have often forced society to adapt, evolve, and modernize. By examining the "dark underbelly" of humanity’s development, this book provides a gripping new perspective on history, proving that crime has always been an integral—and unavoidable—part of how the world is organized.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Fresh Historical Perspective: Offers an unconventional look at global history by tracing the evolution of societal values through the lens of criminal enterprise.

• Global Scope: Covers a vast range of geographic and temporal settings, from early banditry to modern-day technological warfare.

• Thought-Provoking Thesis: Challenges the traditional view of crime as a marginal phenomenon, arguing instead that criminal structures have been instrumental in driving state and societal progress.

• Expert Author: Written by an authority on organized crime, ensuring a rigorous yet highly engaging narrative style.