Sicilia Mafia Group: Impact on Political, Economic, and Social Development - Report Example

Sicilia Mafia Group: Mode of Operations and Their Impact on Political, Economic, and Social Development Mafiagroups have been in existence since middle of 19th century. These groups have a strong base in America and in Italy though their activities span the various regions in the globe. The group that exists in America is America La Cosa Nostra. Italy has three dominant groups namely, Calabrian Mafia, Camorra, and the Sicilian Mafia. The most powerful of the three groups in Italy is the Sicilian Mafia. The groups today are strong network of organized crime. This paper will first give a brief history of Sicilian Mafia, next it will explore their mode of operations, and lastly, it will determine Sicilian Mafia’s impacts on economic, political, and social development. The Sicilian Mafia started back in 19th century in Italy. The group emerged to defend the Sicilians living in Sicily Island from invasions of foreign army. After they resisted the foreign threats, the Sicilian unity grew strong and they united more than ever. They stood solidly to protect their resources in the Island. With Mafiosi as their leaders, they maintained their autonomy. They organized themselves and respect for each other was a strong pillar that held them together. Slowly by slowly the Mafiosi assembled and discussed on the way to form stable institutions to govern them. The Sicilian Mafia agreed to form a government. Later, the establishments of banks and many sectors of economy followed (Natarajan 259). SSicily became a self-governing Island with its rules and regulation. The Mafiosi changed later into gang activities to amass wealth. The Island remained under Mafia authority until Benito Mussolini came into power in the 20th century. The Mafiosi extended their activities to United States. They indulged in drug trade of heroin with some traders in America. A strong link developed between the Sicilian Mafia and their American counterparts. They later got an entry to United States and Canada to flourish their drug dealings. This was the genesis of Mafia culture in America. Since then, the Sicilian Mafia has re-invented their mode of operation to protect them. Their illegal activities have created havoc globally (Grillo 2011). Sicilian Mafia constantly changes their tactics of operation. Their strong force comes from the fact that they have spread their operations not only nationally but also internationally and transnational. This strategy has worked quite well towards becoming stronger and stronger. It makes them grow firm while maintaining a rigid base in the Sicily Island. Mafia maintains its secretive nature (Siegel 167). Sicilian Mafia has a well- structured organization with distinct sectors. Each sector has its role to play in this organized group of criminals. For instance, an enterprise syndicate is involved in businesses such as, drugs, contraband, gambling, and prostitution. The other syndicate focuses its attention on extortion activities to maintain their full power control. The aim of power syndicate is to exercise power over the area it has control and the people. To keep this group in a firm grip of its activities, the business syndicate employs modern and ethics of legal businesses. Siegel notes that Sicilian Mafia embraces modern technological methods to operate their businesses (169). The economic interest and the ambition to maintain autonomy over many parts directs both the power and enterprise syndicates. The efforts of the Sicilia Mafia to establish strong international links in various parts of the world is an indication of superbly organized group. The bond of these alliances is trust and protection of information of the Mafia. The Sicilia Mafia involves politicians and many people with a lot of influence on both national and international circles. In this way, the group infiltrates local governments, legal sector, banks, political parties, and judiciary. This strategy enables the group to be abreast with any new development that might doom the good turns of the Sicilian Mafia. Gambetta asserts that their relationship with the public has improved since the massacre of Italian judge; Giovanni Falcone (100). Currently, the approaches to issues are modest and the group acknowledges the power in co-operation and persuasion. This specifically takes place in conventional crimes. The Sicilia Mafia maintains a good touch with their counterparts in drug trafficking and other activities that define their goals. The lack of centralized point aids the Sicilian Mafia to remain alive in contemporary world. The Sicilian Mafia embraces segregation leadership other than hierarchal. It is a change of operation tactics they used in the past. It has broken any good moves individual global forces makes to eliminate it. This unique mode of operation affected Italian government in her unification endeavor. In addition, the Sicilian Mafia deploys professionals to advise them on their operations in various parts in the globe (Siegel et. al. 8). Through the new insights from the experts, Sicilian group ventures into new and profitable business with huge profit returns. This market strategy has made a positive impact to the Mafia group. The group involvement with the banking systems enables them to execute money-laundering acts. This is through group treachery of the bank employees who doctor the invoices used for fraudulent acts. The Mafia group continues to recruit members from various parts of the world. This is a strategy to keep a competent human resource for their operations. The group is deeply concerned at the increased risks inherent in their activities. In light of this, it incorporates knowledgeable risk management team to deal with such eventualities (Antonio 398). In this way, Sicilian Mafia maintains a balance between their new opportunities and the possible risks. With increased attention from law enforcers on the organized crimes, the Sicilian Mafia has re-invented their operations to escape various traps which anti-crime organization has set. The Sicilian Mafia have re-adjusted their tactics to response to the dangers that globalization poses to their activity. For instance, they invest profit that come from illegal trade in licit businesses. In order to gain full benefits of drug trade, Sicilian Mafia have established small organizations at the drug entry routes. It is ease for these independent units to escape the strong hand of the law (United Nations 29). The logic behind this tactical step is that, disbandment of this organization, upon unearthing of their deals, is not complex and has little negative impact on the group. The use of corruption to loosen the tight drug wars is a workable strategy that Mafia employs. For instance, it has used this mechanism in Italy through bribing of government officials. The group also befriends the custom services along the borders. This has seen safe transit of their drugs and other goods across these borders. Sicilian Mafia activities have had detrimental impacts on political, social, and economic development. It has not only affected Italy but also other parts of the world. This multifaceted Mafia has created havoc both in its homeland Italy and in the international scenes. In Italy, it established its deep roots when the Italian fascism lost in the Second World War. Since then the group has been ruthlessly fighting the government to acquire a political command. Although the government has put its instruments such as judicial investigation in order, the group has turned into banditry attacks for revenge. This group currently has some influence on the politics in Italy. They finance some political parties during the electioneering in Italy. This indicates clearly that the Sicilian group has a strong voice in the Italian politics. Whenever the government wages a crackdown for this group, it responds through violence. The group has affected voters’ rights to vote in their preferred candidates. This has been a replica of 1994 incidence in Italy. Salvatore Annacondia informed the anti-mafia commission about how the group intimidated the voters to select the candidates that the group preferred. Attempt of some political leaders to wipe the Sicilian Mafia in political participation has met them with dreadful responses. The assassination of two mayors in 2008 and 2009 and that of the Calabria Regional Assembly vice president in 2005, testifies Mafia’s determination for political recognition. Italian government is determined to eliminate this group. For example, Sicily Region president got and Senator Marcello got an appeal sentence for their support of Mafia activities in 2010 (Caccia 2011). It is evident that this group has destabilized political system in Italy. Internationally, Sicilian groups continue to intimidate electorates in many parts of the world. In America, they continue to bribe the labor union with large sums of money (Paoli 191). The labor unions provide a political space for the Mafiosi in return. Through this way, the Sicilian Mafia continues to gain political influence and exercise their powers. In addition, they secure freedom and protection of group’s asset. The Mafia participates in political struggle for power, either indirectly or directly (Grillo 2011). Their sound financial position helps the group to finance many political campaigns. Sicilian Mafia causes political instabilities internationally. This derails the efforts of individual government to meet the expectations of their citizens. This group links with liberal, antidemocratic leaders, and other anti-change agencies to oppose reforms in various systems of governments (Paoli 193). Their actions stunt the political developments in the regions where the Sicilian group exercises its power. Frequent political turmoil experienced in many countries is because of Mafiosi disruption of sane politics. The result of this is increased informal governments in these nations for a long time. The Sicilian Mafia ability to maneuver, to fragment, to corrupt, and to form partnerships with government agencies affirms an extension of their authority. Economically, Sicilian group has affected the economic development both in their homeland, Italy and in the rest of the world. In Italy for instance, the group exercises control in many sectors of economy. Statistics shows that, for every five business established, the Sicilian Mafia has control over one. A recent conference held in Milan reveals that, the Mafia share is twenty percent of all business enterprises in Italy. The Italian industrial production has dwindled remarkably. The counterfeiting activities of the group precisely account for this drop. The impact of this is a low Gross Domestic Product of Italy. In the year 2000, the group registered an annual turn over of $133 billion. It was a pinch to the Italy economic output. The influx of fake currency in Italy through Mafia activities sinks the economy of this nation into its knees. The recent confiscation of six trillion U.S fake Bonds is an indication economic pain the Mafia has inflicted to the Italy economical development (Caccia 2011). This fraud defaces the reputation of Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The bank reported that the largest sum of money it ever issued was back in 1934 that amounted to a hundred thousand U.S dollars. Mafiosi have critically increased the startling numbers of unemployment cases in Italy. Their control of many of Italian businesses locks out employment opportunities. Conferscenti, a small business enterprise organization, points out that, there is an hourly disruption of business in Italy. The report adds that more than ten thousand job opportunities are lost due to Mafia activities. This eventually has led to annual closure of one thousand and eight hundred businesses annually. The result is a hard stab on the Italy’s economy. The group has not spared the small businesses either. Mafia is the source of their funding. However, the interest is very high such that they end up closing their businesses. In addition, the group threatens the business owners, an action that has a negative impact on business performance. Mafia treacherous ways to use the financial institution of Italy ensures they have the right information of the financial positions of a variety of banks. With such facts, they professionally carry out their fraudulent activities with certainty. This has negative effects to the growth of the Italy’s economy. To add on, it deters domestic and foreign investments (Antonio 375). These potential investor which lifts economies of the host countries, cannot afford to invest in such business unfriendly environment. Internationally, Mafia activities have varied implications economically. In many parts of Europe, the group targets the strong economies of these nations. This happens through money laundering and other illegal transactions (Storti et. al, 210). This has led to dire economic drawbacks. This drastically has affected the economic powers to deal with unexpected eventualities such financial recessions. The increasing drug trade in many parts of the world spells doom for global economic developments. This has seen tight boarder and transnational drug trafficking checkpoints to restrict the profitable drug trade. Banking sector has been a favorite target for the Sicilian Mafia group. This has resulted to weakening of this sector with subsequent negative impacts on the economy (Natarajan 259). This in turn, increases the national debt of the affected countries. The countries become overdependence instead of concentrating on their national economic development agendas. The tax, that individual nation collects then lands in the hands of Sicilian Mafia. Due to the presence of Sicilian Mafia in the markets, there is a lot of time wastage to devise way to control Mafiosi. This increases market security cost, which proves too costly for smaller economies. The overall impact of such high security cost is a huge slice of the business net profits. This seriously discourages prospective entrepreneurs from venturing into the market. Moreover, technological innovations aiming to boost the world small economies remain untapped. Sicilian Mafia has affected the social lifestyles of the Italian people. Many view this group as breeding grounds for evil and all types of human vices. The Sicilian society has denounced the Mafia activities. The Italian churches have expressed their discontent on the proliferation and flourish of the Mafia group’s (Kington 2011). This destroys the close-knit social stratification. It has eroded the social norms thereby causing an increase of antisocial acts. Robbery and drug trafficking, which are in the rise in Italy has affected the youth and society as a whole. This has stunted the social growth of Italians. They are involved more in violent activities rather than intertwining close bonds among societal members. Internationally, Sicilian Mafia activities present a great danger to social fabric of all the nations. There is substantial increase in the number of criminal acts, drug abusers, and addiction. The Mafia enterprise syndicate in U.S, Mexico, and other countries has adversely affected the youth. It has been very hard to control the entry of these drugs. This is because the group has constantly re-invented their modes of operation. It is quite evident Sicilian Mafia is present globally. Unless the world takes stringent measures, the group will tear political, economic, and social developments into parts. Work cited Caccia, Silvia. “Italy: the Mafia’s hold over the Political Sphere.” Bright 17 Jan. 2011. Print. Kington, Tom. ‘Pope condemns Ndrangheta Mafia in their Calabrian lair’. The Guardian. 9 Oct. 2011. Print. Natarajan, Mangai. International Crime and Justice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. Pinotti, Paolo. The Economic Consequences of Organized Crime: Evidence from Southern Italy. Web 19 March 2012. Siegel, Diana. Global organized crime: trends and developments.New York: Springer, 2003. Print. Siegel, Diana., Nelen, Hans., and Nelen, J.M. Organized crime: culture, markets and policies. New York: Springer, 2008. Print. Storti, Claudia, and Grauwe, Paul. Illicit Trade and the Global Economy.Camridge: MIT Press, 2011. Print. United Nations. A Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment. Washington: United Nations Publications, 2010. Print. Grillo, Ioan. Should Mexico call for a Cease-Fire with Drug cartels? TIME World. Apr. 07, 2011. Print. Antonio Balsamo. "Organised crime today: the evolution of the Sicilian mafia", Journal of Money Laundering Control, (2006) Vol. 9 Iss: 4, pp.373 – 378. Paoli, Letizia. Mafia brotherhoods: organized crime, Italian style. Oxford University Press, 2003. Print. Capo. “Mafia boss of bosses is jailed for 10 years”. Mafia Today. 9 Mar 2012. Read More