Informality as illegality in Georgia's anti-mafia campaign

Slade, G. (2017) Informality as illegality in Georgia's anti-mafia campaign. Caucasus Survey, 5(1), pp. 51-64. (doi: 10.1080/23761199.2017.1283940)

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Abstract

The paper examines the anti-mafia laws in Georgia and links the decline of informality under Saakashvili with the use of punitive measures in a concerted effort to establish legal centrism over and above other extra-legal normative orders. The paper discusses the specific informal practice of the obshchak, or mutual aid fund, and how this evolved to become linked to organized crime, making it an object of criminalization. Finally, the paper argues that punitiveness, framed in terms of fighting the mafia, was a key element in tackling informality. However, far from banishing informality, pressure in the criminal justice system led to systemic punitive informal practices within the state.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Slade, Dr Gavin
Authors: Slade, G.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Central and East European Studies
Journal Name:Caucasus Survey
Publisher:Taylor and Francis (Routledge)
ISSN:2376-1199
ISSN (Online):2376-1202
Published Online:14 February 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 International Association for the Study of the Caucasus
First Published:First published in Caucasus Survey 5(1):51-64
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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