The Criminal Organisation Of The Mafia

Anybody who has access to any kind of media will have heard of The Mafia

. They are part of modern day folklore, and are to be found mentioned in many films and books. Not many people pause to think about their origins, and how they got their name. It is name that can strike fear into the heart of anyone who might have got on the wrong side of them.

It has its origins in mid nineteenth century Sicily, and the Italian name for them is La Cosa Nostra. Roughly translated this means Our Thing, or this thing of ours. The Italian word mafiosa actually translates as bold or beautiful or full of confidence, so it is really quite a nice word. It was the Italian government who made the word synonymous with crime

This society started its move to the eastern parts of the United States in the late nineteenth century as immigration became a popular option. It rapidly became a force to be reckoned with, although its power was at its peak in the late seventies and eighties. Since then investigations by the authorities have managed to curb its power.

Even now it is very strong in Chicago and New York city. It is still considered to control much of the organised crime in both these cities. Even after so much time has passed its links to its birthplace in Sicily and Italy remain very strong.

In Sicily, and especially the city of Palermo, the mafia is still a force to be reckoned with, and is rumoured to have control over parts of the government. Part of the reasons it is so strong is because its emergence came at the same time as the country was growing stronger through exports and new industries. One of the major exports in Sicily is oranges and lemons which grow on the hills surrounding Palermo.

These groves were owned by rich landowners who needed the protection of the mafia. They could then in turn use the political connections of these landowners to enable them to ply their business more freely. The city of Palermo in Sicily is still the main base of this organisation.

The American authorities managed to turn these organised crime connections to their advantage during world war two. At the time several members of this organisation were locked up in jail. By using their connections it became easier for the allied troops to get into Sicily and Italy. In return the convicts were given certain considerations that made it easier for them to run their businesses from jail.

After the end of the second world war the organisation started to regain power from within Italy. They continued to be powerful until the eighties and nineties when several of their top members were murdered. The organisation then started to control more white collar crimes rather than the more usual extortion rackets.

The Italian press now have a new nickname for the mafia, which is La Cosa Nuova, which means new thing. The term mafia is often applied to any groups of criminals that are found throughout the world. The Mafia still only means one thing, and that is the real thing.

by: Tommy Kasino

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