For many years, rogue actors such as the Mafia, dons, and criminal gangs have positioned themselves at the center of the politics and economy in nations across the world. Such networks of outlaws have gained acceptance in poor neighborhoods and are widely seen as alternate authorities that bring both social order and disorder in many societies. These actors are characterized by a strict organization with bureaucratic modes of operation driven by underlying violence. However, in the last two decades, the Mafia has faced a considerable decline in its global and local presence due to the collaborative efforts of multiple state governments. Hume N. Johnson and Joseph L. Soeters, in their article, attempt to forecast whether such a ‘reversible …show more content…
Under this welfare system, the illicit revenues from drug trafficking and money laundering were used to organize activities for community members such as trips to the beach and dances. Such benevolence established strong bonds, affective ties, and sentiments with the residents of the garrison. For example, with the arrest of Don Mathews Lane, a massive number of inner city residents protested on his behalf in fear of his mistreatment in detention by the police. The civic charity of the don is undeniable, but the dark side of this relationship was easily witnessed when the security and preservation of order were at stake. The dons ensured compliance by vandalizing, burglarizing or killing those unwilling to abide by their extra-legal system. This way of life for the people has created an informer phobia, like omertà, which is a fear of providing or being perceived as providing information to the police and the journalists. Therefore, many extra-legal activities often go unreported because the community members fear the consequences which include being “burned out” of their homes or death. It is important to note that high levels of corruption, police brutality, and excessive force tarnished the credibility of the police in the eyes of the people, but consolidated the roles of the dons. The weak state authority turned a blind eye to the drug trade as long as the order in the communities was