SOC229 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Transnational Organized Crime, Organized Crime
12 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
The idea of the mafia is promoted sometimes for political purposes. Organized italian crime is just like any other kind of organized crime, there is no mafia head leader like a godfather. When they bring in violence that brings attention to their group and makes them get eventually busted. Much sooner than if there hadn"t been violence. Organized crime: no clear consensus of the definition . Main characteristics: involves a number of people coming together and working together in a crime. Most involved in illicit markets, committing crime on an ongoing basis (becomes like a business). Whatever goods and services are prohibited or highly taxed/regulated they are involved in the underground market for it. For example there are still niche markets for gambling a market of transportation of people illegally across the borders. However illicit drugs are the main activity that fuels organized crime, that is where the money is.
