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Social Theme and Its Influence on Organized Crime
In the context of organized crime, social themes can be defined as the constant social
patterns and cultural factors that have a basis on which criminal organizations exist and
function. These themes may include factors such as the search for a livelihood, cultural
expectations, obedience, customs, and even discrimination against the less privileged in
society, including immigrants. Social themes demonstrate how some form of organized crime
is interwoven within certain societies and cultures and how, in turn, they shape and are
shaped by them.
The Mafia of Italy, Yakuza in Japan, and different drug cartels in Latin American
countries may have different backgrounds. Still, they have some common social factors that
can explain why such groups continue to exist and have such an impact. For example, one of
the most powerful gangs is the Italian Mafia or Cosa Nostra, and its traditions originate in
Sicily, where people highly value loyalty and family relations. These cultural norms foster a
very close-knit and powerful group that is difficult to influence or control by outside forces
and the law (Lyman & Potter).
Likewise, Yakuza has its own code of conduct and member loyalty, which can be
associated with symbolic references to Japanese virtues of honour and duty. This cultural
compatibility enhances the Yakuza group's membership acquisition and stability in the
organization (Hill).
Latin American drug cartels, on the other hand, are often founded in places
characterized by high levels of poverty and low economic prospects. Thus, for many people
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in these regions, participation in the drug business becomes not only a goal but also a way to
survive economically. Moreover, these cartels can take advantage of the social frailty of
immigrants in their home countries or in other countries into which they have migrated to
increase their networks of operation and people to join them (Grayson).
These cases demonstrate how organized crime groups take advantage of normal
cultural features like culture, loyalty, tradition, or economic pressure and migrants' stories to
perpetrate their work and avoid arrest. Understanding these social themes is important in
understanding the social foundation of organized crime and creating sound action plans for
dealing with this issue.
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Works Cited
Grayson, George W. Mexico: Narco-Violence and a Failed State? Transaction Publishers,
2010.
Hill, Peter B. E. The Japanese Mafia: Yakuza, Law, and the State. Oxford University Press,
2006.
Lyman, Michael D., and Gary W. Potter. Organized Crime. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2011.
