Mafia and Organized Crime: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides)

What is the difference between the mafia and organized crime? Who are these criminals, and why are they so glamorized in popular culture? What is the real damage they are causing to society?

In Mafia and Organized Crime: A Beginner’s Guide, James Finckenauer debunks the myths surrounding the Mafia to reveal the harsh realities of global organized crime from Japan and Russia to Mexico and Colombia.

Despite their popular appeal, these incredibly complex organizations destabilize society on an international scale, perpetuating untold economic, physical, psychological, and societal damage.

From pirating DVDs to human trafficking, this compelling introduction reveals the truth behind the world’s richest and most successful criminals, and asks what we can do to combat this blight on world society.

James Finckenauer has written extensively on organized crime. He is a Distinguished Professor at the School of Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, and former Director of the National Institute of Justice, Washington DC.