What criteria must a gang, criminal organization, or just a crime group in general meet to be considered a "true Mafia" or mob or "Mafia-type" group? Clearly defined hierarchy with ranking system? Initiation rituals? I've often seen literature saying that the so-called Irish, Albanian, Jewish, even Russian mobs aren't true mobs or "mafias," so to speak, because they lack the defining criteria that makes the Mob the Mob, so to speak. I'm sure groups like the Triads, Yakuza, Ndrangheta, Cosa Nostra, LCN, and Camorra fit the bill. But then with regards to the Camorra, it would seem that only those clans with Cosa Nostra or Ndrangheta influence for instance, would be. Any thoughts?

according to italian law «The association is of a mafia type when its members make use of the intimidating force of the associative bond and the condition of subjection and silence that derives from it to commit crimes, to directly or indirectly acquire the management or in any case the control of economic activities, concessions, authorizations, contracts and public services or to obtain unjust profits or advantages for themselves or for others, or for the purpose of preventing or hindering the free exercise of voting or of procuring votes for themselves or for others on the occasion of electoral consultations.»

But then with regards to the Camorra, it would seem that only those clans with Cosa Nostra or Ndrangheta influence for instance, would be. Any thoughts?[/quote]

That's a good question but evidently the Camorra existed before the mafia, and there are some experts that say that the N'Dragheta sprung from the Camorra
Also there are supposedly two Camorra bosses that sit on the Sicilian Cosa Nostra ruling group.Not sure if there are any Sicilians on any ruling group of those Camorra clans

Camorra is more fluid and less hierarchical than Cosa Nostra, it is not even an unified organization, but most of the clans are considered mafia-type by italian police

True,but is it true that the Neapolitan Camorra of today is not structured like it was at its beginning,which was more like the N'Drangheta or Cosa Nostra of today?

And if that true , maybe their movement to a lesser hierarchical organization insulates them to some degree from RICO type prosecutions which can bring down the whole enchilada from top to bottom.

Camorra in 1800 was hierarchical but that structure was dismantled in 1910s after the Cuocolo trial; today, despite not being a unitary organization but a collection of independent clans, these are still considered mafia-type due to the strong subjectification of the territory

To understand the three mafias we have to go way back !

The origins of the 'ndrangheta began around 1860 in several villages of the province of Reggio Calabria . A group of young Italians, who called themselves "the brave men", were exiled from Sicily to Calabria.

This comment is very astute. Mafia really = parallel system of power, more than any particular criminal activity. The criminal activity most applicable to establishing a mafia type regime is usually extortion.


https://youtu.be/gDv4xUuKKF0?si=-3PWek6BSulf96Et

That's one thing the Mafia can claim over other groups or gangs, history! They go back ages, eons! Latin Kings, Bloods, Crips, La Eme, Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, most gangs can't claim ancient history. A few other examples are Triads and Yakuza, they go back to ancient times.

Correct! Cosa Nostra, the Mafia, Camorra and N'drangheta go back eons. And as you mentioned, so do the Japanese Yakuza and Chinese Triads.

Also, at their peak, each of the aforementioned criminal organizations were/are also on the "next" level -- many levels -- above all other types of criminals gangs.

All the rest of these "gangs" you mentioned are just that, low-class gloried street "gangs" and nothing more. And regardless of how many gutter rats they add to their memberships or how wide a net they cast across the country, they will never hold the power and influence the Italian and Asian mobs reached at their peak....Its not even a close call!

The "traditional" mob controlled -- and in some ways still control -- entire industries, national labor unions from the presidency on down, Las Vegas casinos, major multimillion-dollar corporations, thousands upon thousands of important businesses all across the country, across the world, entire banking institutions, Wall Street brokerages, major politicians reaching all the way up into the Whitehouse, and the Italian Government, etc., etc., etc.

And thats not even counting in the myriad of multibillion-dollar criminal rackets they maintained an ironclad grip over!

....Pleeeeez! There is NO comparison!

Even the Colombians with their worldwide heroin and cocaine networks that generated zillions have never come close to achieving that kind of overall power.

What would you say about organizations created by some of the alleged ex drug dealer hip hop artists and their like who have large armed posse groups and entourages around them. They are around top political figures from the White House on down. They help get people elected . Politicians seem to be around them than any Italian mob guy these days. These crews get away with just about anything including murder, until they finally f--k it up by going too far like Sean Combs or whatever he calls himself..

I think they're all shit asses, every single one of them. Thats what "I" think!

Low class, jerk off, degenerate shit asses -- regardless of how much money they might make. And there is NO clearer case in point than Diddy Dicksucker!

PS: It just goes to show how fucked up the thinking and mindset is today for so many of our young and middle aged people. That they would even worship and try and emulate them....Sad, very sad!

The most important crteria is to posess an uncanny ability of committing crimes and not getting caught. The second most important crieteria is to have a natural talent of convincing a jury that you are an innocent man.
The famous wire tap of John Gotti illustrates the second criteria rather eloquently.
John- “Sammy, I think im a fraud”.
Sammy- “ why?”
John- “ everyone thinks i have a natural talent of convincing a jury that Im innocent when in actuality I had jurors bribed”.

The son of sam said if he had both those attributes be would still ne shooting people.

I actually disagree. What makes a Mafia a mafia is conditioning the members of the organization, to submit to a code of conduct in the intent of furthering the interest of the organization, and conditioning the inhabitants of a particular territory to submit to an authority in opposition to the legally appointed one.

It's actually not about any particular crime.....

That was a very good analogy and overview. Good explanation.

How you gonna force the inhabitants to submit to your authority, which is opposite of the LEGAL one? Obviously through corruption and violence which falls under crime.

perhaps some street gangs in the United States (Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, Ms-13 etc.) would fall within the parameters as a mafia-type association due to the subjugation of the neighborhood

One of the main features that marks Mafia distinguishing it from general crime is the presence of hierarchical structures and organizational orders.

https://medium.com/the-devil-among-...s-in-different-mafia-groups-f9633b4571ee

Here's the catch, they all are already 50-60+ years old and still be here another 50+ years. So that point is moot.

The only "true" mafia is the Sicilian Cosa Nostra in regards to title or Italy's crime syndicate. This question have been asked or similar in the past and it should be based on activities. There's a range of crime groups that doesn't utilized a hierarchy while other do. That comes to there development within their societies, demographics, corruption, & underworld politics. Also, countries around the world legal definition of organized crime groups differs to various degrees.