Misha Glenny is a British journalist, author, historian and broadcaster known for his work on Eastern Europe, the Balkans, organised crime, cybercrime and geopolitics. His career has moved from war reporting in the former Yugoslavia to investigations into criminal networks and digital threats. In January 2026, he became the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s long-running programme In Our Time, following Melvyn Bragg.
Misha Glenny makes difficult subjects easier to understand by linking politics, money, technology and violence. His work shows how crime moves through banks, businesses, governments, borders and online systems.
Misha Glenny’s Early Life and Education
Misha Glenny was born in London in April 1958. His father, Michael Glenny, was a translator and academic who specialised in Russian literature. This gave the young Glenny an early connection with Eastern European history, language and politics. The family later moved to Oxford, where he attended Magdalen College School.
He studied Drama and German at the University of Bristol, completing his degree in 1980. He later attended Charles University in Prague for postgraduate study, gaining a deeper understanding of Central Europe during the final years of communist rule.
He also developed strong language skills in German, Czech, Serbo-Croat and Portuguese, as well as English. These skills helped him speak directly with people during his early foreign correspondence.
A Strong Interest in Eastern Europe
His interest in the region grew from family influence and personal experience. He became fascinated by how borders, identity and history shape political life.
Misha Glenny’s Journalism Career
Before becoming a well-known broadcaster, Glenny worked as an editor at Verso Books. He then became Central Europe Correspondent for The Guardian from 1986 to 1988, followed by a role with the BBC World Service in Vienna from 1989 to 1993.
His BBC years placed him close to major events in modern European history. He covered the fall of communism, the return of democracy in Central Europe and the wars after Yugoslavia’s collapse, examining the ambitions, tensions and grievances behind the violence.
Reporting During the Yugoslav Wars
The Yugoslav conflict had a lasting effect on Glenny. He witnessed destruction, displacement and political extremism at close range, and saw how criminal groups and political leaders could work together. Smuggling, arms dealing and illegal trade became part of the war economy. His reporting earned him a Sony Gold Award for broadcasting. He later worked as a writer and broadcaster, taught at universities and advised organisations on international crime, security and political change.
Misha Glenny Books
Misha Glenny has written six major books. Their subjects differ, but all explore power, borders, violence and the hidden forces shaping society.
The Rebirth of History
Published in the early 1990s, The Rebirth of History examined Eastern Europe after communist rule, exploring the hopes created by democracy and the difficulty of rebuilding political systems.
The Fall of Yugoslavia
The Fall of Yugoslavia: The Third Balkan War was published in 1992. It examined the break-up of Yugoslavia, the rise of nationalism and the failure of political leaders to prevent war. Later editions included revised material.
The Balkans
The Balkans: Nationalism, War and the Great Powers, 1804–2012 offered a broad history of the region. Glenny explained how local rivalries and foreign intervention shaped the Balkans over generations.
McMafia and Global Crime
McMafia: Seriously Organised Crime was published in 2008. It examined drug trafficking, people smuggling, money laundering, counterfeit goods and other illegal markets. Glenny travelled widely and spoke with investigators, officials, business figures and people involved in criminal activity. He argued that global crime had become more organised because money, goods and people crossed borders faster than laws could respond.
The book inspired the BBC and AMC drama McMafia, starring James Norton. Glenny served as an executive producer. The television drama used fictional characters, but its themes came from his work on international criminal networks.
DarkMarket and Cybercrime
DarkMarket: How Hackers Became the New Mafia was published in 2011. It examined hackers, online fraud, identity theft, cyberwarfare and industrial espionage, showing how criminals could attack distant victims while hiding behind complex digital systems. His work on cybercrime connected traditional organised crime with the digital world. He explained how criminal groups use the internet for recruitment, payments, fraud and communication.
Nemesis: One Man and the Battle for Rio
Nemesis: One Man and the Battle for Rio was published in 2015. It focused on Antônio Francisco Bonfim Lopes, known as Nem, a powerful figure in Rio de Janeiro’s Rocinha favela. The book examined poverty, violence, drug markets and local power, as well as the difficult relationship between criminal groups and the communities they control. It showed that social inequality, weak services and political failure also shape life inside a favela.
Misha Glenny’s Radio and Podcasts
Misha Glenny has created and presented radio programmes and podcasts. How to Invent a Country explored how nations gained their borders, identities and political traditions across countries including Britain, Germany, Brazil and the United States.
He also presented Putin: Prisoner of Power, about Vladimir Putin’s rise in Russia. The Rise of the Iron Men focused on powerful populist leaders including Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Viktor Orbán, Jair Bolsonaro, Narendra Modi and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Other work includes The Secret History of the World, The Rise and Rise of the Microchip and The Scramble for Rare Earths. In Vienna, he co-hosted Future Discontinuous, about technology, democracy, climate change and international politics.
Misha Glenny Replaces Melvyn Bragg
In 2026, Misha Glenny took over from Melvyn Bragg as presenter of In Our Time. The programme covers history, philosophy, science, religion, literature and culture, bringing academic experts together for each episode. The role suits his broad interests. His experience as a foreign correspondent gives him a strong understanding of history and political change.
Misha Glenny’s Work in Vienna
Misha Glenny became Rector of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna in 2022. The institute focuses on political thought, society, culture and Central and Eastern Europe. He served until March 2026, helping promote discussions about Europe, Russia, technology, democracy and the future of international relations.
Misha Glenny’s Wife and Family
Misha Glenny is married to Kirsty Lang, a British journalist and broadcaster. They have a son named Callum. He also has two children from his first marriage: a son named Miljan and a daughter named Sasha. Glenny has kept details of his first marriage private. His first wife’s name has not been confirmed, so unverified claims should be avoided.
Misha Glenny’s Daughter Sasha
Sasha was Glenny’s daughter from his first marriage. She died in 2014 at the age of 22. Glenny has spoken about the lasting effect of this loss while choosing not to share further private details.
A Respectful View of His Family Life
His family history is separate from his professional work. The details he has chosen to share do not provide a full account of his first marriage or his daughter’s private life.
Wayward Lad Limited and Other Roles
Companies House records Glenny as an active director of Wayward Lad Limited, incorporated in 2004. Kirsty Lang is also an active director. The record confirms their business connection but not their private finances. Glenny has also worked with organisations linked to crime prevention, human rights and security, including the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime, Global Witness and Instituto Igarapé. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the American University in Bulgaria.
Misha Glenny’s Age and Achievements
Born in April 1958, Glenny is 68 in 2026. His achievements include journalism awards, an honorary doctorate, academic fellowships and years with major broadcasters and academic institutions.
His greatest achievement may be the way he connects subjects often treated separately. He explains how war can create criminal markets, technology can strengthen organised crime and political weakness can allow illegal systems to grow.
Why Misha Glenny Remains Important
Misha Glenny remains important because his work combines direct experience with wide historical thinking. He has covered wars, studied criminal networks, written about hackers and now hosts discussions about important ideas. His work remains valuable because it combines first-hand experience with historical context and explanation.
From the Balkans to cyberspace, his central question remains: who holds power, how is it used and who pays the price? That question shapes his books and broadcasting.
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