The Mafia and the mob are not the same thing. The original Mafia began in Sicily and has strict membership restrictions, while the mob has no such limitations. The Mafia has a specific chain of succession, while the mob may not have a well-established hierarchy. Both groups derive income from illegal activities, but the Mafia is more nebulous and vague. The leaders of the mob are often more secretive than those of the Mafia. The difference could also be national or cultural origin. While the terms can be used interchangeably, joining the Mafia is typically a lifetime commitment.
While there are overlaps, the Mafia and the Mafia are not the same thing. In the broadest sense of the terms, the mafia can be safely described as a mafia, but the mafia is not always associated with the real mafia. The original criminal organization known as the Mafia or Cosa Nostra began in Sicily, Italy, and membership is strictly limited to native Sicilians. The mafia has no such restrictions, which is why well-known non-Sicilian gangsters like Al Capone and Meyer Lansky might be considered mafiosi, but not members of the official Italian mafia.
Besides the Sicilian heritage, another difference is the organization. The original Mafia created a very specific chain of succession, which some organized crime experts suggest was inspired by the Roman Catholic Church system of government. The core members should work their way up the ranks to earn more respect from their superiors and gain more power within the organization. A crowd, on the other hand, may not have a very well established hierarchy. Leadership could change in an instant through sheer force or assassination.
This is not to say that the differences between the mob and the mob are always apparent to outsiders. Both organizations derive their income through illicit proceeds from loan sharking, prostitution, gambling, protection, and other unsavory businesses, but the mafia in general is more nebulous and vague than the real mafia. Mafia bosses and their subordinates often become known entities to local and federal law enforcement agencies. They largely avoid prosecution by delegating illegal activities to unknown associates and by maintaining scrupulously legal lifestyles in public.
The leaders of an organized mob, however, often remain clandestine and secretive. Their orders are often passed through reputable intermediaries and couriers. While a Mafia capo de capo, or top man of the organization, may enjoy his or her public notoriety, the leader of a mob is far less likely to become so visible or famous.
Another difference could be national or cultural origin. The original Sicilian Mafia maintained a strict policy against admitting non-Sicilians into its ranks, but this did not stop other Italians from organizing an Italian Mafia. This same philosophy held true for native Russian, Japanese, and Irish criminals, all of whom formed strong organized crime syndicates in their respective countries. Some might use terms like the Irish mafia or the Russian mafia to describe these groups, but others argue that “mafia” should only apply to the original Italian organization.
The difference between the mafia and the mob is not just a matter of semantics, but the two terms can often be used interchangeably in conversation. In organized crime circles, however, there may be a palpable difference between joining an ethnic mob and joining the mafia. Associating with a mafia may be an informal arrangement, but official mafia membership is typically a lifetime commitment. Defection is strongly discouraged, although loyalties among mobs have been known to change.
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