Shady Networks. Studies on Socialist Economy

Shady Networks provides a deep dive into the criminal landscape of communist Poland during the twentieth century. The book is anchored on case studies that examine the cross-section of government bodies, businesses, international trade, and the criminal underworld, offering a thorough analysis of the social systems that allowed these networks to thrive. Despite the presence of Marxist ideology and state institutions, such illicit networks were prevalent in the Polish People's Republic (PRL). These networks linked law enforcement officials, bureaucrats, party affiliates, managers of state-run enterprises, and entrepreneurs with professional criminals. They flourished largely due to systemic corruption, collusion, and ineffectual law enforcement. At the heart of these issues was an inert state machinery and the failures of a centrally planned economy, which, combined with stringent restrictions on daily life and individual freedoms, led to the expansion of black markets wherever shortages were present, whether in currency exchange or the production of consumer goods. The authors primarily explore the last two decades of the PRL, from 1970 to 1990, focusing on a period when the security state's foundations were well-established. During the transition away from communism, many within these networks sought to ensure their place in the forthcoming capitalist landscape by any means necessary. This publication is aimed at historians, criminologists, and sociologists, but it is also relevant for researchers interested in the study of criminality under communist regimes, the underworld, and black market economies, especially in understanding the unique criminal structures that develop in totalitarian environments.