NCJ Number
8785
Date Published
1972
Length
199 pages
Annotation
FIELD STUDY OF AN ITALIAN-AMERICAN FAMILY AND RESEARCH ON THE EVOLUTION OF SECRET SOCIETIES LIKE THE MAFIOSA OF SOUTHERN ITALY.
Abstract
THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING DEBATE ON THE EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF ORGANIZED CRIME IN AMERICA. THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK CONCLUDES THAT, WHILE INDIVIDUAL ITALIAN-AMERICAN FAMILY UNITS ARE ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, THERE IS NO NATIONWIDE CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY. WHAT IS OBSERVED IS RATHER A SIMILARITY OF KINSHIP PATTERNS AND FAMILY LOYALTIES AMONG OTHERWISE AUTONOMOUS FAMILY GROUPS. BEGINNING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT MAFIOSA, THE AUTHOR TRACES THE PATTERN OF EXTENDED FAMILY ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH IMMIGRATION AND SETTLEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY. THE BOOK THEN FOCUSES ON A FAMILY INVOLVED IN BOTH LEGITIMATE AND ILLEGITIMATE BUSINESSES IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA. USING DATA GATHERED BY INTERVIEWS AND OBSERVATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS, THE AUTHOR DETAILS THE KINSHIP ROLES AND NETWORK OF MUTUAL OBLIGATIONS EXISTING WITHIN FOUR GENERATIONS AND VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE FAMILY. CHARTS HELP CLARIFY THE INTRICATE ALLIANCES FORMED BY INTERMARRIAGE AND IDENTIFY PATTERNS OF INTERACTION AND AUTHORITY AMONG THE CLAN MEMBERS. (SNI ABSTRACT)