Virtually every modern society, no matter how prosperous, structured, or even authoritarian, has organized crime. This is true in countries such as Britain and France, but also in Russia and China. There always seems to be individuals who for whatever reason – poverty, discrimination, lack of skills, or perhaps just a shortage of patience – cannot fit into normal organizations, relationships, and careers. They turn to crime. These individuals get money and power from the formal society, along with acceptance and respect from their criminal colleagues. The key to their success is to provide what is missing or forbidden, such as drugs, prostitutes, or gambling. They then protect themselves through corruption, deception, intimidation, and murder and become even more successful by organizing on a large scale.

In the Western world, one way that organized crime came about began in rural Sicily in the nineteenth century. With the Italian government distant, ineffective, and unresponsive, private organizations grew up to provide protection and settle disputes. A parallel, unofficial society emerged, which came to be known as the mafia. Mafia organizations were reinforced by family ties, and they provided honor and respect for their members. They also protected themselves through secrecy and violence. Over time, it was natural for the mafias to become involved in organized crime, which became extremely lucrative.

In twentieth-century United States the atmosphere was better, but immigrants were still subject to discrimination and often found it hard to achieve the American Dream through legitimate channels.