jjares reviewed ?Ndrangheta: The History of Italy?s Most Powerful Organized Crime Syndicate on + 3263 more book reviews
Mafia can mean different things in different parts of Italy and elsewhere. This is the interesting story of one of those Mafia groups: 'Ndrangheta. The other two are Cosa Nostra and La Camorra of Naples.
The 'Ndrangheta emerged in Reggio Calabria, where the population had little faith in the governing authorities. This organization is based on ties of kinship, and each family unit is part of a larger clan. This is the only mafia that is centralized; no matter how far out in the world they work, they report back to Italy. They started when Calabrian criminals emerged from prison, they formed a loose confederation until an economic crisis came to the country and they were able to take advantage of it.
It is surprising to hear that Benito Mussolini waged war on organized crime. He did it to get support in Sicily, where organized crime was rampant. Mussolini's work drove the mafia underground until after his death. When the Allies landed in Sicily, they purged the fascists, which also happened to help the mafia gain back power.
The 'Ndrangheta emerged in Reggio Calabria, where the population had little faith in the governing authorities. This organization is based on ties of kinship, and each family unit is part of a larger clan. This is the only mafia that is centralized; no matter how far out in the world they work, they report back to Italy. They started when Calabrian criminals emerged from prison, they formed a loose confederation until an economic crisis came to the country and they were able to take advantage of it.
It is surprising to hear that Benito Mussolini waged war on organized crime. He did it to get support in Sicily, where organized crime was rampant. Mussolini's work drove the mafia underground until after his death. When the Allies landed in Sicily, they purged the fascists, which also happened to help the mafia gain back power.
