Dr. Nikolas Gvosdev to Speak on Russian Mafia Oct.21

Dr. Nikolas Gvosdev, associate director of the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University, will speak on Russian organized crime at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, in the Cowden Room on the third floor of the Bill Daniel Student Center. The speech is a part of the series, "All the News That's Fit to Discuss," that is sponsored by the Council for International Education.
Gvosdev's speech is titled "Guns and Greed in Contemporary Russia." He will give a general overview of how the Russian Mafia is linked to politics, business and the economy.
"This isn't always a bad thing," Gvosdev said, as he explained that in recent history most members of the Mafia have turned from a life of crime to a life of business.
According to Gvosdev, organized crime is becoming legitimate, which in an ironic way is helping Russia. The takeover will prevent the Communists from returning to power and assists in stabilizing the economy, something Gvosdev said he would like to see happen soon.
Gvosdev's lecture is free and open to the public. For more information about the lecture series, contact Dr. Joan Supplee, associate professor of history and director of the Latin American Studies program, at 710-6294.