Mafia and Organized Crime Analogies

Commenters frequently compare the discussed situation, entity, or institution to mafia tactics, protection rackets, cartels, and organized crime operations.

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2007
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Keywords

www.ojp jstor.org RICO justice.gov mafia crime organized criminal gangs protection groups cartels cartel racket

Sample Comments

spaetzleesser • Aug 4, 2021 • View on HN

Mafia like groups are everywhere. The names may be different.

pointyhat • Sep 20, 2011 • View on HN

Don't the Mafia use tactics like this? It's a protection racket!

reducesuffering • Mar 22, 2021 • View on HN

They're alluding to a cartel or mafia.

coliveira • Nov 27, 2025 • View on HN

This is a common thing among their mafia.

Fjolsvith • Jul 17, 2020 • View on HN

The behavior either way makes me think of dealings with mafia/gangs.

smichel17 • Jan 9, 2021 • View on HN

If "organized crime" was good enough for the mafia, why not here?

quotha • Jun 17, 2013 • View on HN

That sounds like the mafia, not the gov't.

avgcorrection • Nov 8, 2023 • View on HN

Please explain how this is akin to organized crime. I’m dying to know.

MattGaiser • Mar 22, 2021 • View on HN

Is this any different from the mafia in many places?

croes • Feb 22, 2025 • View on HN

Sounds like Mafia‘s protection deals.