.......in addition to my previous post about Lansky, Alex, Bonanno, Luciano, Chicago, the Genoveses and the U.S. Mafia in general, I think this is the best way to explain the difference between the old Mafia and the American Mafia, or between the TRADITIONAL organizations and the Americanized or MODERN organizations...

TRADITIONAL & MODERN

ORGANIZATION

Families, clans, traditional hierarchy <-Traditional

Families, different hierarchies (between families), individuals (including non-Italians), temporary groups (including non-Italians), networks<-Modern

LOCATION

Based in cohesive communities<-Traditional

Global reach<-Modern

GOAL

local power and status<-Traditional

profit-making<-Modern

ENVIRONMENT

weak state, lack of alternative social organization<-Traditional

strong states (The U.S.), robust social organization<-Modern