Mafia and Mafiosi: The Structure of PowerHenner Hess's classic work, first published almost a quarter century ago, gives a detailed picture of the typical career of mafiosi. Hess describes a distinct subculture whose behavioral patterns have been largely determined by the specific political, economic, and social history of Sicily, a society characterized by a weak state and organized on the basis of self-help. This subculture was and is the breeding ground for the strong-arm man "mafioso" or "uomo d'onore," man of honor, as he is called in Sicily, the proud, taciturn, independent man who believes in the use of violence to achieve personal goals. As a rule, the men come from poor families and rise through violent crime, shrewd diplomacy and the building of a "family" of followers to a respected position of power and wealth. Most important are the mafioso's reciprocal arrangements with politicians and government officials whom he supports in the elections and who protect him from law enforcement. Mafia, popularly conceived as a strictly centralized secret society, is instead proven to be a system of independent families which might on many occasions cooperate, but just as easily be driven to bloody feud. Only in the last decade have there been a number of so-called "pentiti," crown witnesses who cooperate with the criminal justice system. Using their testimonies, an extensive afterword brings the book up to date. |
Contents
BRIGANTAGGIOLADRISMOMAFIA | 5 |
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SICILIAN SOCIAL STRUC | 13 |
Social stratification and economic situation | 33 |
Copyright | |
5 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action Alongi altri Amoroso Antonio Badalamenti bandit barons brothers busta 85 Calogero Calogero Vizzini Caltanissetta camorra campieri Campofelice Campofelice di Fitalia Cannizzo capo carabinieri career Cernigliaro clientage comune condizioni Corleone cosca cosche crime criminal Cutrera D'Angelo delegato di P.S. Dolci economic election fasc fatto feudal Feudo field guards Fitalia Francesco Franchetti 1925 fratello frequently functions gabellotto gang Gangi gangster Genco Russo gente Giuseppe Valenza hand Ibid Inchiesta La mafia landowner Lauriano letter Loschiavo mafia mafioso mafioso behaviour mafioso groupings Mazzarese Mezzojuso Monreale Montemaggiore morality Mori murder Mussomeli norms Novacco official omertà organisation Palizzolo Partinico partito relationships peasants persons Pietro police position Presidente Pretor Prizzi Processo protection Province of Palermo Pubblica Sicurezza quale Questor Reginella relations rôle Salemi Salvatore Scalia sempre Sicilian Sicily Signor social society Sotto-Prefetto stato sub-cultural Termini threat tion Trapani trial tutto uomo di rispetto Valenza Villabate Vincenzo Vizzini