Organizations like the Yakuza, 'Ndrangheta, Cosa Nostra, the Irish Mafia, etc, are part of many countries, to bigger or smaller fashion.
But to someone from those countries, what do you think was the original/historical cause for such organizations to develop?
My country - Portugal - has some degree of presence of these organizations but, to my knowledge, we never developed our domestic version of a crime syndicate. And we are not a bunch of choir boys. Something just kept things from forming. And that intrigues me.
So, what is the understanding of someone from a country where the organizations exist?
I’m from Northern Ireland and many of the so-called “paramilitary” groups that used to be a part of the conflict here have shifted towards organised crime in the 21st century. It goes for both Republican and Loyalist groups. In fact, these days it’s extremely rare for both sides to attack each other. They mostly have internal feuds with rival groups. It’s moreso on the Loyalist side, though.
(Just in case anyone isn’t aware, Republicans in this context are those who want a full 32 county Irish republic, while Loyalists are those who reject Irish unity and want NI to remain as part of the UK).
No matter the amount of brain power I put to it I can’t make sense if why the UK does not release the Northern Ireland territory.
Under EU umbrella with would have been nearly frictionless, if well thought out.
And Ireland, as a nation, accepts it. I would love to see the outcomes of referendums on both countries regarding that territory, one for releasing the area, the other on integrating it. Peacefully, obviously.