Customer Reviews

Organized Crime and American Power: A History

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This is a very insightful book that presents the historical and social factors that have contributed to the rise of organized crime in the United States. It is unfortunate that the book was published in Canada and written by a British author; however, it shows the extent of the controversy surrounding this subject. This book reveals that more than ethnic based 'imported'' criminal organizations, what has passed off for organized crime or 'mafia' in The United States is a phenomenon, which was related to and often encouraged, directly and indirectly, by the very government form exploitation of natives, Africans and working peoples in general. More significantly, the prohibitions that pandered to the 'puritanical' element in society such as the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920's and the current 'war on drugs' have actually encouraged criminal behavior. The criminal element is then succeded by a network of official corruption and so called regulation, which leads to the creation of so called legitimate businesses. Woodiwiss also shows that the very criminal justice system was set up to punish certain criomes more vehemently than others. There are interesting examples, which he brings up from the New York Triangle fire that then led to the honoring of Woman's Day to the Sacco and Vanzetti case. It is not an easy book to read, in that the style is academic and at times very detailed. This is not meant to be an entertaining account; however, it gives an unprecedented analysis of organized crime starting form the pre-Civil War period and covers all kinds of corruption. I would not be surprised if Martin Scorsese read this book while making his film "Gangs of New York", as when I saw that film this acadmic and dry but valuable book came to life. I would also reccomend reading Eric Schlosser's "fast Food Nation" and "Reefer Madness" as they are excellent complementary - and more entertaining - volumes to this text.