Mafia Methods, Extortion Dynamics and Social Responses

Drawing on the current literature, the chapter defines and discusses social and legal norms, and explores some of their differences and similarities. The authors then turn to an exploration of some of the legal and social norms arguably relevant when protection rackets are concerned. They also discuss some of the ways in which norms, relevant to protection rackets, interact, and draw on the Sicilian mafia and the Georgian mafia as two reevant cases.