The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon of the Triads

Rating:
Summary: Decent, if dry, historical account of Triad History
Review: Booth's book about the history of the Triads gives a decent account of the lore and background. However, it reads kind of dry- I'm not sure if it's because after awhile all the Chinese names all seem to run together, or what... The book reads like a very academic endeavor, which is fine- I've read a number of criminology books that take that approach. While very informative, "The Dragon Syndicates" isn't a gripping page turner by any stretch of the imagination.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful and in-depth thesis of the Chinese underword
Review: Despite the cosmetic and cultural differences that separate the varied multitudes of this earth, some basic precepts hold at the core of nearly all modern civilizations: a distribution system of goods and services, a military, a ruling elite. The presence of secret societies can also be considered among these standards: the banding of individuals to provide support and strength against the competitive wiles of foreigners and mutual enemies. The names of these secret societies--Freemasons, Illuminati, Mafia, Yakuza--are enough to inspire envy and respect and fear and hatred and lust among those not included in their exclusive ranks, thus the popularity of fringe-writers and conspiracy theorists. The Chinese Triads are perhaps the least documented and possess the greatest potential threat of all these myriad societies, for while the others concern themselves with the manipulation of economy and politics, the Triads have of late become steeped in all manners of vice, including the supply of that most insidious and destructive of painkillers, herion.

The Triads originally began as political resistance to the upstart Manchu Q'ing dynasty, then altered their goals in the 20th century to undermine/suppress the spread of the Communist agenda. In the last fifty years these patriotic intentions have been almost totally corrupted by the drive for monetary gain via extortion, kidnapping, graft, prostitution, gambling, drag trafficking, ect. The influence of the Triads is worldwide and they are now branching out into the lucrative possibilities of the Internet's dark underbelly, including child pornography and technologies fraud.

In his book `The Dragon Syndicates', Martin Booth traces the history of the Triads, chronicling with equal import the legends, rituals, ranks and motivations of these particular secret societies. The task of the author-historian is to combine the political, cultural and social aspects of an era and present these tangled elements in a lucid, flowing format; Booth succeeds admirably in this book, especially considering the elusive nature of the subject. I read this as research for a science-fiction book I'm writing, but found it to be an enjoyable, if ultimately disturbing, read. Well worth the time and money.

Rating:
Summary: A significant contribution to criminology
Review: Insightful, comprehensive--Booth put in an incredible amount of research and also an unmatched sensitivity to the issues addressed. Initially when I saw this book, I questioned its authenticity due, I'm afraid to admit, in great part to the fact Booth is not Asian. But unlike the bulk of non-Asian authors writing about Asia, he has an incredible understanding of the culture and heritage--not the kind of understanding learned by a few quaint encounters or one from a sociology degree, but a well-rounded grasp.

A lot is covered in this book and I am more than pleased with my purchase. It serves as an invaluable reference in my library and I've recommended the book to everyone I know interested in the hak sh'e hui (triads).

Rating:
Summary: Martin Booth- The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon o
Review: Martin Booths "The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon of the Triads" is a very comphrensive account of the Triads which starts with study of chinese history, and works its way all the way up to modern day Triad activity. This is a very informative type of read, at times may find it lengthy, but the author provides a very detailed account of the history of the Triads. The numerous accounts of secret societys of many types is fascinating, whether it be merchants banding toghether to protect themselves, or others fighting for patriotic causes, or as more recently criminal groups working to build wealth and wealth alone. I was surprised at how deeply involved these societies were/are involved in chinese politics, culture etc and at the extent to which the Triads have spread globally. I also liked the picture inserts in middle of book, which among other things showed Triad Cermonial ware, Weapons, surveillance pictures. Martin Booth's " The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon" is a book worth having, one that you can reread many a time.

Rating:
Summary: Martin Booth- The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon o
Review: Martin Booths "The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon of the Triads" is a very comphrensive account of the Triads which starts with study of chinese history, and works its way all the way up to modern day Triad activity. This is a very informative type of read, at times may find it lengthy, but the author provides a very detailed account of the history of the Triads. The numerous accounts of secret societys of many types is fascinating, whether it be merchants banding toghether to protect themselves, or others fighting for patriotic causes, or as more recently criminal groups working to build wealth and wealth alone. I was surprised at how deeply involved these societies were/are involved in chinese politics, culture etc and at the extent to which the Triads have spread globally. I also liked the picture inserts in middle of book, which among other things showed Triad Cermonial ware, Weapons, surveillance pictures. Martin Booth's " The Dragon Syndicates: The Global Phenomenon" is a book worth having, one that you can reread many a time.

Rating:
Summary: Important contribution to a critical global problem
Review: One of the most vexing global problems today is gobal criminal capitalism, or international organized crime. Three years ago its gross revenues were estimated at $1.8 trillion. Today it is most likely to be over $2 trillion, annual, of which 50 percent or so is profits. The impact of their trade, which is narcotics based, on the moral fibre of people everywhere is incalculable. It does not take a rocket scientist to understand that this type of money translates into massive political, financial, legal, judicial, and law enforcement corruption in all countries, including the United States. So far, there has been too little attention placed on the Chinese Triads and their contribution. Dragon Syndicates is an excellent start towards filling the gap. Its history is excellent. It makes clear the reason organized crime exists is that it is politically protected and very rapidly becomes integrated with the political and financial structure. The weakness in the book is its failure to understand the present-day government involvement, especially in the case of China, which while it outlawed internal use of drugs in 1949, as described in the book, at the same time it nationalized the poppies and began using opium and heroin to undermine other societies, most notably Japan and the United States (See The Peking Bomb by Gerd Hamburger and Psycho-chemical Warfare by A.H Stanton Candlin). The State-Triads connection has grown and can now be seen in the marketing of designer drugs, produced in military labs, and in the coordination with the Yakusa, Mafia, and Russian Organized Crime, in which the intelligence services play a major role. The threat posed by international organized crime and the need to recognize and respond is clearly evident in the Dragon Syndicates. This book is especially useful in showing how tremendous the Triad-supported crime has grown in the United States since 1965, when immigration controls were significantly relaxed. This is especially apparent in places like New York, San Francisco, and the Pacific Northwest. The book is also excellent in showing the variety of activities -- from narcotics, to white slavery, loan sharking, pornography, arms sales, money laundering, and piracy of computer software. The book is a valuable and insightful read. See also Drug Politics by David Jordan.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and packed with information
Review: This book is riveting and packed with research. Booth seems to have dug into corners that have never been explored before, or certainly not in quite the same way. He makes a strong case for the strength of Chinese organized crime and makes a persuasive argument for it being a truly global problem. This is a highly readable book but also one that manages to be comprehensive at the same time. There is no aspect of the Chinese criminal syndicates tht Booth does not touch upon, and almost always in fascinating detail, in "The Dragon Syndicates."

Rating:
Summary: An indept study of the Triads
Review: This is a very informative book, that at times reads like a text book, on The Triads, past and present. Some of the information in the book really took me by surprise because it seems too unreal to be true. Information on Chiang Kai Shek, Philippine President Marcus, pirated Chinese CDs, the Yakuza, and The Society of God Worshippers really surprised me. Some of the information in the book like the Tongs, the 14K connection with the Wah Ching gang, the Hong Kong triads activities involvment in vice, the Shaolin Monastary, The White Lotus Society and the Boxer Rebellion, Triad origins and rituals, and a myriad of other related issues deepened my knowlege after reading this book. The one thing that I disliked about the book is that at times it does get confusing with all the English translations of Cantonese and Mandarine names and words. It got me confused a few times and I had to look up some of the words again in the index. But over all it has been informative and a fascinating study.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: This is an excellent book, giving a great insight into Triad culture and its history, and how both are intrinsicly linked to the Chinese mindset. At times it is a little dry, and especially for a Western reader, the names and locations can be introduced so expediently that you have to take a breath and put the names into perspective. However, it is a very solid background read and will have you wanting to read more into the subject matter and the particular persons of historical importance that are discussed.