Why has the Mafia been able to survive for so long, despite enormous pressure from law enforcement - Essay Example

Add to wishlist

Summary

Consequently, it is widely known as the Sicilian mafia. Its existence is believed to have been etched since Italy’s’ unification. Presently, the Sicilian mafia still holds a…

Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing

GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.6% of users find it useful

Why has the Mafia been able to survive for so long, despite enormous pressure from law enforcement

Read Text Preview

Subject: Law
Type: Essay
Level: Masters
Pages: 1 (250 words)
Downloads: 2
Author: cornellkassulke

Extract of sample "Why has the Mafia been able to survive for so long, despite enormous pressure from law enforcement"

Why has the Mafia been able to survive for so long, despite enormous pressure from law enforcement? The Mafia traces its infamous history back to Sicily in Italy where it began as a rural phenomenon. Consequently, it is widely known as the Sicilian mafia. Its existence is believed to have been etched since Italy’s’ unification. Presently, the Sicilian mafia still holds a significant presence and control over the social, economic and political life of Sicily. To this end, the infamous mafia known as the American mafia or Cosa Notra is regarded as an extension of the Sicilian mafia owing to its members drawn from the Italian American society.

A common denominator among these criminal organizations has been their persistent penetration and longevity in organized crimes. Evidently, there are several notable reasons as to why the mafia has continuously survived for so long despite pressure from law enforcers. Foremost, the mafia is uniquely structured in its organization by having friends in centers of influence of power. Incidentally, the Sicilian mafia has been known to bankroll the elections of political personalities with close ties to it.

Evidently, in 2008, a man who was previously colluding with the mafia was re-elected into parliament. This just shows the political backing that the mafia enjoys as support. Moreover, the types of illegal business operations conducted by the mafia have led to the control of enormous resources. Evidently, the mafia engages in drug trafficking, gambling, extortions, prostitution and street taxes. As a result, the high resource base at the mafia’s control aids them in corrupting government officials and law enforcers that can further aid and abet their illegal activities.

The mafia equally has a hierarchical structure of authority among the member that guarantees continuity. Consequently, the crime boss or Capo Famiglia is succeeded by the capo bastone or underboss in the event of anything such as death or incarceration to the crime boss. As a result, breaking the chain of authority and operation of the mafia has proven to be quite a problem to law enforcers.ReferenceFrontline World. (n.d.). FRONTLINE/World | Italy: Taking on The Mafia | Interview with Alexander Stille | PBS.

PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved November 20, 2012, from http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/italy801/interview/stille.html

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Why has the Mafia been able to survive for so long, despite enormous pressure from law enforcement

Corruption in Law Enforcement

Corruption in law enforcement I.... Course Number: Term and Year Corruption in law enforcement Introduction Today, corruption has become a world wide problem.... Every civilized and democratic form of societies needs a law enforcement mechanism to combat the threats of notorious elements and international level organized criminals.... The present paper is aimed at focusing on the various aspects of corruption in the sphere of law enforcement and policing....

4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

Can Individual Virtue Survive Corporate Pressure

Solomon then goes on to cite eminent philosophers from the past, including Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill and David Hume in emphasizing the importance of individual character and virtue.... The researcher of this essay “Can Individual Virtue Survive Corporate pressure?... Solomon and Gilbert Harman on the question of 'Can Individual Virtue Survive Corporate pressure?... But the preoccupation of these philosophers is not only whether individual virtue 'can' survive....

5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Beggars Mafia: Preying on the Poor

In this research project, I plan to show how there is a lack of awareness from which global social pressure could evolve in order to force countries in which there exist these organizations so that strict law enforcement actions can be put into place to stop the beggar mafias from operating.... The beggar mafia can exist because local law enforcement and politicians are benefiting from payoffs from the leaders of the gangs.... Because of the different cultural concepts of individual value and law, third world countries are often susceptible to the existence of such organized crime within their cities....

7 Pages (1750 words) Assignment

Law Enforcement Training Process

Any career in law enforcement demands training in the beginning.... … Any person meditating on joining any law enforcement must always consider the training period or hours it would take for him or her to graduate from the training facility.... Training in matters attaching on stress management is highly important in enabling successful completion of the training program law enforcement Any career in law enforcement demands training in the beginning....

2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Law Enforcement Suicide

The paper "law enforcement Suicide" focuses on the critical analysis of the major issues concerning law enforcement suicide, the process by which the law enforcement officers take their lives through suicide.... nbsp;It has been rated to be the number one killer of law enforcement officers.... Therefore, since the law enforcement officers are mostly licensed gun holders, it will be very detrimental to the public if they cause harm to the public before they commit suicide....

7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

Right Behaviour among the Law Enforcement

The paper 'Right Behaviour among the law enforcement' focuses on the propensity of unethical behavior among law enforcement officers which reached its toll in the 20th century in the United States.... hellip; The question on the application of ethics and the principles of right behavior among the law enforcement officers has raised reasonable concern.... Why do law enforcement officers and security personnel engage in unethical behavior?...

5 Pages (1250 words) Research Paper

Gang, Mafia, Cosa Nostra

On the other hand, the American Mafia ascended to power in the twenties and is independent from the mafia in Italy; however, they have similar traditions including ormeta, which is a code of conduct and loyalty (Sifakis, 2005, p.... In the island, the word “Mafioso” refers to a member of a mafia and did not have any association to criminal activities when it was coined as it was used In the nineteenth century, several mafia croups emerged developed into private armies known as mafie, and they were involved in various activities including extortion of money from people who owned land and ultimately became the violent criminal outfit that is currently referred to as Sicilian Mafia....

11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

Russian Organised Crime

Also, the government was not able to provide the basic products to the citizens hence making a... However, the existence of a market that was illegal was the basis of the presence of the mafia in the Soviet Union.... During that time, the criminals who stole from the government resources and shared the profits with the poor were regarded as heroes and were seen as protectors of the community (Gleason, 2009).... This organized crime has been affecting the economy of some countries in the world....

8 Pages (2000 words) Essay