It is essential to clarify, first of all, the concept of mafia, often identified with organized crime but which cannot always be considered as such. In fact, the latter is limited to carrying out crimes, through an organization, on the level of illegal markets, thefts, for example, but also tends to acquire a “domain”, direct or indirect, over the territory in which it operates.
Moreover, mafia crime does not operate only and only within its organization but in some cases, indeed almost always, it uses the political authorities in order to carry out its biggest blows. In concluding the analysis of the word mafia, it cannot be forgotten that one of the strengths of all mafias is certainly the ability to intimidate “opponents” by means of threats, opponents who thus become pawns of the organized crime that has represented one of the greatest evils of society.
Having clarified the concept of the mafia, it is important to distinguish the various types that exist in the world and in particular in Italy, the country where it was born and where it naturally spread more.
The real mafia was born, developed, and still resides in Sicily. Like a real state, it has collected real taxes from various economic companies: the so-called “bribes”. So it can be said that the “pure” Sicilian mafia has managed to establish its own regime throughout the territory by getting the better of the real state.
As previously mentioned, the mafia did not develop exclusively in Italy, but has spread all over the world and even in the U.S.A. following in the footsteps of the Sicilian underworld. In fact, following the migrations to America in the early decades of the 1900s, mafia crime was also “exported”, which began to enter the circle of prostitution and drug laundering.
As we have said, there are many types of the mafia; in fact, we find the ‘Ndrangheta in Calabria, the Camorra in Campania, and the Sacra Corona Unita in Puglia, which, although perhaps not having reached a level equal to the Sicilian mafia, are not far behind, just as the inconveniences they cause to their respective Italian regions but in general the problems they cause to the rest of society.
Many have tried to stop this phenomenon, for example with the rise to power of fascism there was an attempt by the prefect Mori to change the situation but he soon gave up, as soon as he came into contact with the top of the mafia pyramid. Or in the last decades, something has moved, the “State” has moved, thanks to the exploits of men like Falcone and Borsellino who sacrificed their lives to fight the mafia, but above all men who had the courage to publicly denounce the mafia phenomenon.

Speaking of the mafia and mafia organizations, a question may arise, namely, how does a mafioso present himself.
Contrary to what some might think, the mafia is not a man with a squalid and miserable appearance as instead reflects his personality as a criminal, on the contrary, he is a man of honor and respect, sure of himself, and apparently, he seems a noble-minded and classy person. Furthermore, the mafioso is not even afraid of being arrested and ending up in prison, as he knows that he will soon be released.
We can also speak of WHITE COLLARS, a first definition attributable to these subjects may be that of “criminals in the shadows”. These individuals, in fact, devote themselves to their illicit activities, masterfully camouflaging themselves in the community, indeed often proving to be staunch supporters of honesty and legality.
To conclude, however, it does not mean that “those born into the Mafia will die as a Mafioso”. In fact, those who no longer want to be part of a mafia organization can turn to the police. In this case, we speak of repentance, which according to many is indispensable in order to find the various mafia gangs and in general to fight the mafia, but it is not always so easy to try to abandon the underworld, as it is more dangerous than to be part of it. However, the state promises protection and penalty discounts to those who repent.