Smuggling

Contraband and Corruption in World History

Smuggling

Contraband and Corruption in World History

Alan L. Karras (Author)

Paperback ~~$42.00~~ $37.80 Hardback ~~$114.00~~ $102.60 Ebook (Epub & Mobi) ~~$37.80~~ $30.24 Ebook (PDF) ~~$37.80~~ $30.24

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Description

In this lively book, Alan L. Karras traces the history of smuggling around the world and explores all aspects of this pervasive and enduring crime. Through a compelling set of cases drawn from a rich array of historical and contemporary sources, Karras shows how smuggling of every conceivable good has flourished in every place, at every time. Significantly, Karras draws a clear distinction between smugglers and their more popular criminal cousins, pirates, who operated in the open with a type of violence that was nearly always shunned by smugglers. Explaining the divergence between the two groups, the book illustrates both crossovers and differences.

At the same time, states and empires tolerated smuggling since eliminating smuggling was a sure route to a disgruntled and disorderly citizenry, and governments required order to remain in power. As a result, smuggling allowed individuals to negotiate an unstated social contract that minimized the role of government in their lives. Thus, Karras provocatively argues that smuggling was, and is, tightly woven into an uneasy relationship among governments, taxation, citizenship, and corruption.

Bringing smugglers and smuggling to life, this book provides a fascinating exploration for all readers interested in crime and corruption throughout modern history.

Chapter 1: Smuggling in Regional and Global Perspective: "Truck, Barter, and Exchange"
Chapter 2: "It's Not Pirates!"
Chapter 3: The Political Economy of Smuggling
Chapter 4: Smuggling: Patterns and Practices
Chapter 5: Smuggling, "Custom," and Legal Violations
Conclusion

Product details

Published	Dec 16 2011
Format	Paperback
Edition	1st
Extent	232
ISBN	9780742553163
Imprint	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Dimensions	9 x 6 inches
Series	Exploring World History
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

Author

Alan L. Karras

The author uses vivid examples from his extensive archival research. . . . While the book centers upon the heyday of political economy debates of the 18th century, Karras keeps modern readers amused with contemporary examples, establishing the relationship between civil society and commerce. Recommended.

Choice Reviews
Karras convincingly, and wryly, argues that this wink and nod dynamic has been essential to the survival of the state, siphoning off the sort of public rage over unfair trade that stokes revolutions. Karras also addresses the far more heinous trafficking of people and illegal drugs and refutes the entire endeavor by reminding us that taxes pay for necessary government services.

Booklist
Karras discusses the intimate connection between smuggling and the corruption of local officials, which, while strictly illegal, sometimes eased the life of local residents.

Foreign Affairs
A welcome addition to the literature on smuggling. . . . [Karras] develops important arguments about the nature and causes of smuggling.

Journal of World History
Karras selects specific cases that illustrate 'a larger pattern that is observable across both time and space' (viii) and reinforce his arguments. They demonstrate the amount of culling through primary resources he’s done to assemble this evidence. Also of noteworthy mention is how he shows the lack of correlation between implementing laws against smuggling and how these are interpreted. . . . The book provides an important examination of the global similarities of smuggling and the parallels between modern-day smugglers and those of the past.

Pirates and Privateers
Karras clearly knows the sources on Atlantic history like the back of his hand; the British archives . . . are gloriously represented. . . . Karras’ case studies . . . are rich . . . , providing 'local color' as well as explaining some of the modalities of contrabanding and the importance of smuggling in larger political-economy frameworks. . . . Recommended to anyone who wishes to learn about smuggling and its many global contexts.

Journal of Interdisciplinary History