Mafia: The Sicilian Cosa Nostra

Revelations in recent years by high profile Mafia members allow for a better understanding than was previously possible of the organization, rules, norms of behaviour and activities of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra as well as other Italian organized crime groups. This article uses these, in combination with other information, to examine the internal functioning of Cosa Nostra (its ideology, admission criteria, structure, relations and modes of conflict regulation) and to consider the nature of its contemporary transformation in terms both of economic activities and its changing relationship with Italy's political class and secret societies.