The intersection between organized crime and intelligence agencies is a fascinating one. The russians have led the way in part because of their incestuous relationship with organised crime. In some cases it's out source to gangsters, and sometimes it's our source to lawyers. Are different services which you can outsource your political conflicts these days? I think its sunhapste fascinating one.
Traditional conflict – fought with guns, bombs, and drones – has become almost too expensive to wage, too unpopular at home, and too difficult to manage. So nations have innovated. Russia wages hybrid warfare on Ukraine. The US threatens Iran with further sanctions. China spends billions buying political influence abroad. The world seems to be heading for a new era of permanent low-level conflict, often unnoticed, undeclared and unending. Mark Galeotti is Honorary Professor at UCL and a specialist in politics, criminology, security studies, international relations and anthropology. His recent book, The Weaponisation of Everything, is a ground-breaking survey of this new way of war. Joining Mark to discuss the book and his work is Carl Miller, Research Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices