On the global survival of mafias
the-tls.co.uk
the-tls.co.uk
"In his opening chapter, “Birth”, Varese compares the initiation rituals that are common to almost every mafia organization. He draws from interviews, autobiographies and police wiretap transcripts in which the gangsters do most of the talking. It is remarkable how close in style, substance and imagery the initiation ceremonies are across cultures – the religious symbolism, the use of tattoos, the omertà, the misogyny and sealing of membership through blood are present among the Yakuza of Japan, the Russian mafia, the Chinese triads and the Sicilian Mafia."
It seems to me mafias are basically tribal societies. That is not surprising as human psychology is basically designed for tribal existence. With complex civilized societies, humans are expected to integrate into something much larger than a simple tribe. However, civilizations often have spaces in which tribes can start up and survive, such as cults and criminal mafias.
I guess that it's more about the big boss is always right.
Written records are needed for a fair observance of contracts. With no fairness, contracts are useless because one side can change them without consecuences.
"I'm altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further." Darth Vader.
I have always loved the fantasy of the mafia just from a job advancement and loyalty point of view. You start at the bottom, get rewarded for hard work and being intelligent and eventually get "made". Then you have power, unconditional respect, and life long guarantees of a job, security, and family. Getting "made" should be a real thing in the corporate world.
Imagine a job where you're guaranteed a job, but you're also never allowed to resign on fear of injury and/or death.
Bonus: The mafia that even the mafia is afraid of that you've probably never heard of? The Jewish mafia.
Most of them were and are legit and the affinity just coming from jewish immigrants having a history in those fields living in europe. Not for money laundering what you implied. They are very well connected and help each other.
They are apparently so powerful they are the "Mafia of the Mafia", no sources just that they are "The Jewish Mafia". Are there Jewish mafiosi? Sure, like a lot of other nationalities and ethnic groups, but I doubt any mafiosi will see them as above them as the "puppet masters of international crime".
You call this intellectually honest?
A strawman attack. I was speaking of mafia in general in the first sentence.
>They are apparently so powerful they are the "Mafia of the Mafia"
Putting words in my mouth I never said, another strawman. There is a difference between saying they are the "mafia of the mafia" and saying they are a part of the mafia that even other mafia are afraid of.
>"puppet masters of international crime"
Far too simplistic a summarization of this much more nuanced and complex subject.
>You call this intellectually honest?
Yep, unlike your two comments.
Misha Glenny - author of the posted article - is also the writer behind BBC's McMafia (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05pksm8), which portrays the world (literally!) of organized crime through the eyes of a Russian Jewish 'mafia' family. Compelling viewing, and provides a lot of context for the comments of the parent post.
But it really was just another ethnic-based organized crime group, not substantially different from the others in any way, and most definitely not "The mafia that even the mafia is afraid of that you've probably never heard of?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOEGUAf3QxU
There are "The Goodfella Tapes" but here's a random JFK doc that has informant info:
https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/docid-3...