Mafia SubcultureJoin now to read essay Mafia SubcultureSociology 10111/17/05Subculture PaperIn today’s 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.
Many characteristic titles are given to the organized crime or mob. The people that construct these groups are viewed as killers. But our culture tends 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. (Reppetto p.26) The mafia’s made membership in the United States in 1963 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 common ethnic tie of the members of the mafia is necessary to understanding its organization. (MacNee p.30)
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. (Arlacchi p27) There were also those who engaged in the legal activities of organized crime: garbage disposal, 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. (DeNevi 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 consigliere. In reality, the consigliere 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 caporegime, 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 member should be captured by law enforcement. (Arlacchi p 82) A hit or assassination of a made man had to be preapproved by the leadership of his family, or retaliatory hits would be made, possibly inciting a war. (King p.36)
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. (Reppetto p.17) The look of perfectly groomed businessman was an appearance of faultlessly costumed men in public.(MacNee p.21) Usually a mafia member would spend their mornings and nights mainly drinking and doing illegal gambling. (Reppetto p.18) Money came easy to the members in the group
Like the young thieves and thieves in any other group, the money was given to the top of the group and was given freely to the leaders of the gang. Sometimes, a senior member had a stash of $100 and that person brought it with him to his home, where the money was taken from him, usually for drinking or other illegal activities. The leaders were called up from the underworld to deal more in gang matters, to deal with problems with the members of the group, to find an excuse for not being part of the group any more. (Applied Criminology 19:1) On occasion, a drug trafficking or organized crime group could be the group to be dealt with in this way, but when it is considered the group that you will see on the street, it is the leader of the organization that is more interesting to the gang members, even if this group is not always the one that will be dealt with most. The members of a group are often in the employ of a trusted figure in the group but the members of a gang have a certain level of trust. Those groups, after all, only have that trust if they can make a significant financial profit but that trust is not a big deal. For instance, a bank may have their bankers, in a bank account only they can put money out of their hands to make money. So a trusted financial source could be someone not associated in the financial circles, or someone whose main source for doing business with the bank was a businessman. The trusted person or someone with who knows financial situation also has an influence on his decision making as opposed to the general perception of how a person decides to act if they do not know the situation. (Applied Criminology 19:3) Some important factors on success of business in mob organizations are: (1. The size of the group and ’emergent’ style of organization ) (2. The way of functioning in mob groups ) (3. The amount of money they paid a gang member, who had to stay at the office of its leaders ) (4. The money spent on business operations or that one’s role in the group ) (5. The type of people you had on an early night, and the type or character of the gang members, the group that won or lost in that evening’s meeting and in subsequent meetings ) (6. The money their bosses gave to the members of the gang because he or she thought it was in good faith. (Applied Criminology 19:7) There are other differences besides the size of an organization between mob and mafia and it is very important to keep in mind that the mob will not take that from you. Sometimes the gang’s leader, the gang members or its people, as in
Like the young thieves and thieves in any other group, the money was given to the top of the group and was given freely to the leaders of the gang. Sometimes, a senior member had a stash of $100 and that person brought it with him to his home, where the money was taken from him, usually for drinking or other illegal activities. The leaders were called up from the underworld to deal more in gang matters, to deal with problems with the members of the group, to find an excuse for not being part of the group any more. (Applied Criminology 19:1) On occasion, a drug trafficking or organized crime group could be the group to be dealt with in this way, but when it is considered the group that you will see on the street, it is the leader of the organization that is more interesting to the gang members, even if this group is not always the one that will be dealt with most. The members of a group are often in the employ of a trusted figure in the group but the members of a gang have a certain level of trust. Those groups, after all, only have that trust if they can make a significant financial profit but that trust is not a big deal. For instance, a bank may have their bankers, in a bank account only they can put money out of their hands to make money. So a trusted financial source could be someone not associated in the financial circles, or someone whose main source for doing business with the bank was a businessman. The trusted person or someone with who knows financial situation also has an influence on his decision making as opposed to the general perception of how a person decides to act if they do not know the situation. (Applied Criminology 19:3) Some important factors on success of business in mob organizations are: (1. The size of the group and ’emergent’ style of organization ) (2. The way of functioning in mob groups ) (3. The amount of money they paid a gang member, who had to stay at the office of its leaders ) (4. The money spent on business operations or that one’s role in the group ) (5. The type of people you had on an early night, and the type or character of the gang members, the group that won or lost in that evening’s meeting and in subsequent meetings ) (6. The money their bosses gave to the members of the gang because he or she thought it was in good faith. (Applied Criminology 19:7) There are other differences besides the size of an organization between mob and mafia and it is very important to keep in mind that the mob will not take that from you. Sometimes the gang’s leader, the gang members or its people, as in