Webs of Smoke - Smugglers, Warlords, Spies, and the History of the International Drug Trade

This fascinating history of international drug trafficking in the first half of the 20th century follows the stories of American narcs and gangsters, Japanese spies, Chinese warlords, and soldiers of fortune whose lives revolved around opium. The drug trade centered on China, which was before 1949, the world's largest narcotic market. The authors tell the interlocking stories of the many extraordinary personalities_sinister and otherwise_involved in narcotics trafficking in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Drawing on a rich store of U.S., British, European, Japanese, and Chinese archives, this unique study will be invaluable for all readers interested in the drug trade and contemporary East Asian history.

List of contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Men in the Shadows Chapter 2 Bureaucrats Chapter 3 Merchants Chapter 4 Monopolies Chapter 5 Noveaux Riches Chapter 6 Europeans Chapter 7 Warlords Chapter 8 Soldiers of Fortune Chapter 9 Spies Chapter 10 Americans Chapter 11 Communists Chapter 12 The Myth of Conspiracy

About the author

Kathryn Meyer is professor of history at Wright State University. Terry Parssinen is professor of history at the University of Tampa in Florida. He has appeared twice on NPR's Fresh Air.

Product details

• Authors: Kathryn Meyer, Meyer Kathryn, Terry Parssinen, Parssinen Terry
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 02.10.2002
• EAN: 9780742520035
• ISBN: 978-0-7425-2003-5
• Dimensions: 147 mm x 228 mm x 19 mm
• Weight: 540 g
• Series: State & Society in East Asia
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Ethnology > Folklore; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Criminology, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Disease & Health Issues, HISTORY / World, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, Drug & substance abuse: social aspects, General & world history, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, General and world history, Crime and criminology, Crime & criminology, Drugs and alcohol: social aspects