Mafia

"Is it true that our politicians are controlled by the Mafia?"

The origins of the Mafia date back to the 19th century in Sicily, when bandits, estate managers, guards, and rebels formed gangs – which followed a strict code of honor. Through violence, they controlled large parts of the island, extorted businessmen, and corrupted politicians. Soon, they expanded their power to other countries. The ‘Cosa Nostra’ (meaning ‘our thing’) or ‘Honorable Society,’ as they call themselves, sees itself as a fighter for independence. That this contradicts the terror they spread does not seem to bother them much. Today, the Mafia is emblematic of organized crime par excellence, encompassing protection rackets, drug trafficking, and murder. Unsurprisingly, it also plays a key role in many conspiracy theories.