Mark Galeotti

Usually, I’d be re-upping a new podcast. Instead this Monday, I’m inviting people to sample some of the back catalogue! This is a thread of some of my favourites; which are yours?

In Moscow's Shadows 2: Mishustin, Sechin, Institutional vs Personal Power - In Moscow's Shadows Prime Minister Mishustin is self-isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, and Andrei Belousov is standing in for him, But how does the prime minister really matter in a hyper-presidential system like Putin's...

In Moscow's Shadows 2: Mishustin, Sechin, Institutional vs Personal Power, 2 May 2020
A blast from the past! Comparing the power of the majordomo at the court of the tsar, with being one of Putin's trusted mates. 6/end
www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

In Moscow's Shadows 17: Russian Gangsters; and Kadyrov and Captain America - In Moscow's Shadows An introduction to the Russian underworld and, especially, three problematic concepts - the 'honest thief,' the 'thieves' world' and the 'mafia state' - to kick off a series of segments about aspects ...

In Moscow's Shadows 17: Russian Gangsters; and Kadyrov and Captain America, 22 Nov 2020
An introduction to the Russian underworld and, why the rest of Russia doesn't share Ramzan Kadyrov's hostility to Captain America. 5/
www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

In Moscow's Shadows 33: The Russian Orthodox Church PLC; and No Country For Old Securocrats - In Moscow's Shadows Is the Russian Orthodox Church a spiritual community, a political institution, or a business empire? The truth of the matter is that it has become all three, and I toy with the idea that we should thi...

In Moscow's Shadows 33: The Russian Orthodox Church PLC; and No Country For Old Securocrats, 23 May 2021
Is the Russian Orthodox Church a spiritual community, political institution or business empire? It's all 3. And what happens once the security chiefs hit 60? 4/
www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

In Moscow's Shadows 127: When Napoleon was Nuked and Other Russian Conspiracy Theories - In Moscow's Shadows Was Moscow nuked in 1812? Have a thousand years of history been made up to conceal the power of the 'Russian Horde'? Was Lenin a mushroom? Are reptiloids trying to subvert Russia with Satanism? Of cou...

In Moscow's Shadows 127: When Napoleon was Nuked and Other Russian Conspiracy Theories, 23 Dec. 2023
A meandering exploration of the wild and wacky world of Russian conspiracy theory? 3/
www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

In Moscow's Shadows 146: Britain and Russia, Eternal Frenemies - In Moscow's Shadows Reading Barbara Emerson's excellent The First Cold War: Anglo-Russian Relations in the 19th Century got me thinking more about the nature of British-Russian relations, which really date back to the 16...

In Moscow's Shadows 146: Britain and Russia, Eternal Frenemies, 12 May 2024
Why do we each loom so large in the other's geopolitical imagination, and why Russia is torn between extreme Anglophilia and Anglophobia? 2/
www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

As foreshadowed, no IN MOSCOW'S SHADOWS podcast today (though paying Patrons should check their email for a substitute). Pining? Why not sample the back-catalogue. Here is a thread of some of my favourite oldies: 1/

The insoluble link between government and crime In the 18th century, the cash-strapped British crown imposed customs duties on tea imports that rose as high as 119 per cent. Unsurprisingly, such huge tariffs sparked a smuggling boom in coastal town...

So what's the difference between the nation state and the mafia? My @thespectator1828.bsky.social review of an intriguing new study of organised crime, capitalism, corruption and society by @markgaleotti.bsky.social www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-...

My new book HOMO CRIMINALIS: HOW CRIME ORGANISES THE WORLD is now out... in Dutch! Congrats to @prometheusuitgever.bsky.social for their speed. The English language version is out with @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social next week
uitgeverijprometheus.nl/boeken/homo-...

Very much appreciated! Yes, both Kindle and Audible, although it may take longer to hit non-UK markets

In February 2026 we will be joined by @markgaleotti.bsky.social who will be sharing his insights with us……
www.kwaku.org.uk/Speakers/202...

Maffia-expert Mark Galeotti: ‘Zonder een soort vrede bestaat het risico dat Poetin alle remmen loslaat’ De georganiseerde misdaad heeft de wereld steeds meer in haar greep, zegt Rusland-kenner Mark Galeotti. Hoe we de maffiosi van deze tijd het best kunnen bestrijden? Begin bij uzelf. ‘De politie is gee...

Apologies to those of you without a subscription (it's paywalled) and who don't speak Flemish/Dutch, but my long interview with De Morgen on HOMO CRIMINALIS (published this week by @prometheusuitgever.bsky.social‬) is out:

www.demorgen.be/nieuws/maffi...

'Prescient and often witty' 'A tour-de-force across the centuries' 'Combining captivating storytelling with incisive analysis' (Yes, genuine praise!)
My forthcoming book HOMO CRIMINALIS is on a whopping 25% discount from @waterstones.bsky.social to the end of the month.

1. Putin generation: the internet is scary and a threat and needs to be controlled
2. Mishustin generation: e-govt and digitalising everything will save the system
3. Younger generation: the internet is cool - we want to see what we can do with it, even breaking the rules 2/end

Monday morning re-up: looking at the new era of digital repression in Russia and postulating that in some ways there's a parallel with the Soviet experience with 'cybernetics' and 3 generations... 1/

There's an odd hierarchy - you sometimes see booze, etc at mafia graves, but only for low-to-middling rankers. The big names all get flowers, often in almost comically extravagant bouquets and displays, and the occasional icon...

In Moscow's Shadows 210: Is Russia Being Sentenced To The Digital Gulag? - In Moscow's Shadows With calls for WhatsApp to be banned and searching for 'extremist' material punishable by fines, there is much talk of a 'North Koreanisation' of Russia, of a 'digital gulag.' After a first half looki...

In Moscow's Shadows 210: Is Russia Being Sentenced To The Digital Gulag?
With calls to ban WhatsApp and fine searching for 'extremist' sites, is North Korea Russia's future? It's not that simple www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

Ten years ago, paying homage... of sorts... to the grave of Vyacheslav 'Yaponchik' Ivankov, arguably the last of the true vory v zakone old school gangster kingpins.

If you don't already have my PUTIN'S WARS, the paperback and ebook are 30% off in the @ospreypublishing.bsky.social summer sale...
www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/putins-wa...

Lessons Lost in Time: Russia’s Worldview “Forged in War” w/ Dr. Mark Galeotti
Talking over the themes of my @ospreypublishing.bsky.social book FORGED IN WAR with Bill Murray for his excellent podcast series
t.co/oGxQwIl1BO

Bad news for the economy... might it be good news for recruitment to the SMO?

Monday morning re-up: how Moscow is being in effect driven into Beijing's orbit, but China and Russia still have very definitely different interests. Oh, and why the new sanctions imposed and threatened aren't really going to make a big difference...

In Moscow's Shadows 209: Eagle, Dragon, Bear - how the Ukraine war drives Moscow into Beijing's orbit - In Moscow's Shadows In the first half, I offer a (rather pessimistic) assessment of not just Trump's 50-day ultimatum but also recent EU and UK sanctions, before pivoting to explore how the US president has inadvertently...

In Moscow's Shadows 209: Eagle, Dragon, Bear - how the Ukraine war drives Moscow into Beijing's orbit

1st half offers (jaundiced) take on Trump's 50-day ultimatum and new EU and UK sanctions; 2nd pivots to Russia-China relationship

www.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

Xi, not Trump, has the most power over Putin. Will he use it? China’s influence over Russia could yet change the war in Ukraine, but the president has bigger goals in mind

Xi, not Trump, has the most power over Putin. Will he use it?

Spoiler alert: he won't. However, the implication of Trump's threat of secondary sanctions is to bring Xi closer into the Trump/Putin psychodrama. My latest for @thetimes.com (£)

www.thetimes.com/world/russia...

Kremlin-watcher Mark Galeotti: ‘Moskou ziet Trump als een luidruchtige Biden met een ander kapsel’ Met wapenleveringen en door te dreigen met extra sancties stelde de Amerikaanse president Donald Trump zijn Russische ambtgenoot Vladimir Poetin voor een ultimatum over Oekraïne. Maar dat maakt weinig...

Kremlin-watcher Mark Galeotti: ‘Moskou ziet Trump als een luidruchtige Biden met een ander kapsel’
Interviewed about Russia and Ukraine (and a bit of Trump) for @tijd.be
www.tijd.be/dossiers/rus...

Trump and Russia - a riddle, enigma and mystery? Trying to make sense of what might happen next on Ukraine-Russia with the excellent @markgaleotti.bsky.social

In Moscow's Shadows 207: What Is Going On Between Baku and Moscow? - In Moscow's Shadows In one corner, Azerbaijan's Ilhan Aliev, in the other, Russia's Vladimir Putin, two autocrats locked in an increasingly acrimonious political conflict sparked by, of all things, the arrest of some gan...

Podcast: @markgaleotti.bsky.social dissects how a seemingly mundane counter-gang arrest in a provincial Russian capital has escalated the fall-out between Moscow and Baku - and there may be more to come…

inmoscowsshadows.buzzsprout.com/1026985/epis...

🚨NEW EPISODE🚨
Trump’s position on the war in Ukraine looks to be changing – but will his threat of ‘severe’ sanctions force Putin to a lasting ceasefire?

@gavinesler.bsky.social assesses Trump’s ‘major statement’ on Russia with @markgaleotti.bsky.social ➡️ linktr.ee/drillpod

Trump’s Putin ultimatum — Can he force an end to the war? Podcast Episode · This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler · 17/07/2025 · 22m

Sat down with ⁦@gavinesler.bsky.social‬ for the latest in his This Is Not A Drill podcasts to talk about Trump and Putin. How tough is the Donald really getting?

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Good eye! Yes, it is