Mafia Subculture free essay sample

In todays lifetime, there are numerous different cultures that are continuing to develop. We look at culture as a way of expressing behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work. But with these ways, our cultures are being divided into countercultures, which are typically carried out by the younger generation with values or lifestyles in hostility to those of the established culture. A subculture social group within a world culture that has distinguishing pattern of behavior and beliefs. An example of a division of culture would be the Mafia, an organized crime family or business. The members in this group share and are committed to a common set of norms and values. The Mafias lifestyle principles are directly opposed to those of the dominant society. The meaning the Mob affiliates has a behavior that serves to unite them at the same time, which separates them from normal American culture. We will write a custom essay sample on Mafia Subculture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Many characteristic titles are given to the organized crime or mob. The people that construct these groups are viewed as killers. But our culture ends not to view the organized crime subculture for what it really is. An organized crime enterprise is a criminal group that provides unlawful goods or services on a regular basis. An example would be a narcotics wholesaler. Therefore it is a criminal firm, family or business organization. (Report p. 26) The mafias made membership in the United States in 1 963 was approximately 5,000. Twenty-five hundred of these were in five families in New York City; 300 or more were in Chicago, the other major city of widespread organized crime activity, under one family. Recognition of the moon ethnic tie of the members of the mafia is necessary to understanding its organization. (Machine p. 0) The mafia was a form of behavior and a kind of power. Members were known as soldiers or wise guys. The soldiers were the individuals, mainly young middle-aged men who, along with their nonmember associates, engaged in the illegal activities of organized crime. Gambling narcotics, loan-sharking, hijacking, labor racketeering, are just some of the illegal offenses. (Railcars pop) There were also those who engaged in the legal activities of organized crime: garbage espousal, restaurants and bars, vending machines, produce, trucking, and garment manufacturing. Wherever the mafia could get their hands on money, they were involved. They controlled the underground world in major cities. (Denned p. 40) A Don, who was insulated from actual operations by several layers of authority, ultimately controlled each family. According to accepted belief, the Dons closest and most trusted advisor was referred to as the consigliore. In reality, the consigliore was meant to be something of a hearing officer who was charged with intervening intra-family disputes. He also takes care of the economical side of the business. An under boss was likely as well. There were then a number of regimes with a varying number of soldiers who conducted actual operations.Each regime was headed by a chaperonage, who reported to the boss. When the boss made a decision, he never issued orders directly to the soldiers who would carry it out, but instead passed instructions down through the chain of command. In this way, the higher levels of the organization were effectively insulated from incrimination if a lower level ember should be captured by law enforcement. (Railcars p 82) A hit or assassination of a made man had to be approved by the leadership of his family, or retaliatory hits would be made, possibly inciting a war. King pop) Behavior patterns were different depending on whom you were doing business with and how well you knew the boss. Some men were aggressive and some were peaceful, there were all different characters in mob organizations but all had their priorities, which consisted of making money and making sure that the business grew With respect. Respect was one of the important factors on the street along with appearance. (Report p. 1 7) The look Of perfectly groomed businessman was an appearance Of faultlessly costumed men in public. (Machine p. 1) usually a mafia member would spend their mornings and nights mainly drinking and doing illegal gambling. (Report p. 1 8) Money came easy to the members in the group but with its benefits came its negatives. With becoming a made man in the mafia, a man didnt have much to worry about unless certain sanctions were violated, for example slipping undisclosed information out too the public or law enforcement about the mob. If you so much as whisper our secret to the trees, you will die! If you are arrested, you must not tell about me or you will die.But if you are in trouble we will help you with everything we have said Capons. When Capons man was caught and testified in court, a fellow mob member was in the court, he crooked the index finger, and gripped the bent finger between his teeth, then pulled the finger away and ran the fingertip around his collar. (King p. 55) It was the mafias sign of death and a dangerous organization to get involved with. Organized crime relationship with the dominant society was important. The business of the American mafia was fundamentally illegal, and its success also involved law enforcements failures.To a certain extent the mafia control was make easy by the long-established corrupt alliances between politicians, racketeers, and cops. But sometimes its anticrime strategies were flawed. (Denned p. 68) Around the 1 8805 on, New York police policies on Italian gang crimes shifted too let them kill each other. Because the mafias were mainly made up of Italians, the American society looked at the members as a unique group of super-criminals. To the society they were powerful, well-entrenched organized crime group. (Railcars p. 102) A description of the rise Of the American Mafia is more than just a crime story.It is a window into American society demonstrating the workings of political, governmental, and economic forces. It is a story that is often ignored in text on American government. But yet being in the Mafia shows how their bosses had a great deal to say about how America was governed. The reason for the American Mafia is an account of how groups of criminals, achieved, enhanced, and maintained their power, in large part because they were more skilled, better organized, and better managed than their rivals or the law enforcement agencies that opposed them.