mafia
Organized criminal network
A mafia is any organized criminal network, especially one based on family ties, ethnic solidarity, or regional loyalty.
The term extends to any tight-knit group that controls access to power or resources: the literary mafia, Hollywood mafia.
The word suggests secrecy, mutual protection, and ruthless enforcement of loyalty. (Capitalized Mafia refers specifically to the Sicilian or Italian-American crime syndicate.)
Power to affect others
- controlAuthority to direct
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
grip · stranglehold · patronage · clout · reach · network · cartel · organization
influence
Power to affect others
- controlAuthority to direct
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
coercion · grip · stranglehold · patronage · clout · reach · network · cartel · organization · ring
- Italian AmericansItalian Americans, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese
- MafiaCosa Nostra, Five Families, Colombo, Gambino, Genovese
- criminal groupsgang, cartel, mob, syndicate, crime family
- global crimehuman trafficking, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, terrorism, money laundering
- nonstate actorsmilitia, insurgent, rebel group, guerrilla, paramilitary
- organized crimemob, the mob, syndicate, crime syndicate, crime syndicates
mafialaw enforcement
Upholding legal codes
police · FBI · government · justice system · civil society
mafiacharity
Voluntary aid for others
nonprofit organization · humanitarian organization · NGO · benevolent society · philanthropic foundation
mafiaopen government
Right to state information
public institution · press · whistleblowers · public accountability
- Russian mafiaSlavic organized crime syndicate
- mafia donCriminal organization leader
- American MafiaItalian-American crime syndicate
- mafia trialsCourt cases against organized criminals
- Sicilian MafiaSicilian organized crime syndicate
- mafia stateState captured by criminals