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Mafia: A Global History
Few forces have shaped our world as powerfully – or as secretly – as mafias.
Groups such as La Cosa Nostra, the Medellín Cartel, New York’s Five Families, the Japanese yakuza and Russian vory are notorious, endlessly covered in news stories and popular media. Yet when official histories are written, their role in shaping nations, economies and societies is rarely acknowledged.
In A Global History, Ryan Gingeras draws on more than a decade of research to uncover this suppressed underworld history. Crossing centuries and continents, he introduces legendary figures – Al Capone, Pablo Escobar, Du Yuesheng – and explores the conditions, cultures and locales that gave birth to modern Sicily, Marseille, New York, Colombia, Tokyo. As he reconstructs the rise of a gang or the life of a gangster, he also charts the expanding power of states and the increasingly international reach of trade, crime and law enforcement. After all, governments define what is a crime and who is a criminal, and their agents create the strategies used to limit or defend against their threat.
Beginning with bandits and ending with today’s ‘mafia states’ – and the alarming blurring of lines between gangsters, corporations and political leaders – this sweeping narrative traces the evolution of organised crime in response to industrialisation, globalisation and technological change. By charting the origins, consolidation and transformation of mafias, Gingeras reveals not only where contemporary gangsters come from, but how they became central to our imagination and why they are the uncredited architects of the modern world.
Groups such as La Cosa Nostra, the Medellín Cartel, New York’s Five Families, the Japanese yakuza and Russian vory are notorious, endlessly covered in news stories and popular media. Yet when official histories are written, their role in shaping nations, economies and societies is rarely acknowledged.
In A Global History, Ryan Gingeras draws on more than a decade of research to uncover this suppressed underworld history. Crossing centuries and continents, he introduces legendary figures – Al Capone, Pablo Escobar, Du Yuesheng – and explores the conditions, cultures and locales that gave birth to modern Sicily, Marseille, New York, Colombia, Tokyo. As he reconstructs the rise of a gang or the life of a gangster, he also charts the expanding power of states and the increasingly international reach of trade, crime and law enforcement. After all, governments define what is a crime and who is a criminal, and their agents create the strategies used to limit or defend against their threat.
Beginning with bandits and ending with today’s ‘mafia states’ – and the alarming blurring of lines between gangsters, corporations and political leaders – this sweeping narrative traces the evolution of organised crime in response to industrialisation, globalisation and technological change. By charting the origins, consolidation and transformation of mafias, Gingeras reveals not only where contemporary gangsters come from, but how they became central to our imagination and why they are the uncredited architects of the modern world.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2026
About the author
Ryan Gingeras
10 books24 followersRyan Gingeras was raised in San Diego, California. After receiving his B.A. in History at the University of California, San Diego, he went on to complete his M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. He is currently Associate Professor, Associate Chair for Instruction, and the Chair of the Doctoral Committee at the Naval Postgraduate School.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 12, 2026
Estive indeciso se 3 ou 4 estrelas. Optei pelas 4, não porque seja um livro bom, que não é. Essencialmente o que não gostei nele é a forma pouco sistematizada com que aborda o tema.
As Mafias tinha tudo para ser um sucesso, porém perdeu metade do livro a falar de banditagem e de que forma nos sítios mais recônditos do mundo as organizações de brandidos tiveram dupla acção. Enquanto atores de uma actividade ilícita, mas também uma forma de dar estrutura a sociedade mais periféricas numa altura quando o braço do Estado tinha dificuldade em se fazer sentir. Perdeu muito tempo nisto, e perdeu ainda mais a falar de tríades e yacuza com nomes de protagonistas que nos parecem todos iguais. Estava bem longe de ser uma história das Magias do Oriente e mais parecia um cardápio.
Menos confuso mas igualmente incompetente quando fala da Máfia americana, da Cosa Nostra, da Camorra ou da Ndrangheta. E aqui não tem desculpas! Tem muitas fontes e poderia ter feito um melhor trabalho nomeadamente no que respeita à penetração das mafias no mundo da política.
Curiosa a ligação que faz entre guildas, maçonaria e Opus Dei. Curioso é Adar que pensar.
Na descrição da máfia é variantes italianas é curiosa a descrição que faz da forma como obras icónicas influenciaram a opinião pública, romantizando a actividade mas também o seu papel “didático” nesse mundo de banditismo dando-lhe uma áurea romântica que a atividade sempre desmentiria. É mesmo curioso saber que em algumas organizações estas obras eram obrigatórias como “currículo” formativo.
Melhorou muito, e daí a pontuação, quando abordou as máfias russa, Ucrâniana e Tchechena. Bem sistematizado, explica bem a origem, as motivações e a evolução. Se tivesse só escrito isto seria um bom livro.
Ao entrar no mundo do terrorismo e querendo fazer passar essas organizações por máfias introduz confusão adicional que seria dispensável.
Voltou a perder-se quando regressou ao presente americano, quando descreveu o mundo dos cartéis, em particular o mexicano - muito confuso.
Resumindo, uma boa ideia que podia e devia ser melhor conseguida. Vale pelo excesso de informação que condensa.
As Mafias tinha tudo para ser um sucesso, porém perdeu metade do livro a falar de banditagem e de que forma nos sítios mais recônditos do mundo as organizações de brandidos tiveram dupla acção. Enquanto atores de uma actividade ilícita, mas também uma forma de dar estrutura a sociedade mais periféricas numa altura quando o braço do Estado tinha dificuldade em se fazer sentir. Perdeu muito tempo nisto, e perdeu ainda mais a falar de tríades e yacuza com nomes de protagonistas que nos parecem todos iguais. Estava bem longe de ser uma história das Magias do Oriente e mais parecia um cardápio.
Menos confuso mas igualmente incompetente quando fala da Máfia americana, da Cosa Nostra, da Camorra ou da Ndrangheta. E aqui não tem desculpas! Tem muitas fontes e poderia ter feito um melhor trabalho nomeadamente no que respeita à penetração das mafias no mundo da política.
Curiosa a ligação que faz entre guildas, maçonaria e Opus Dei. Curioso é Adar que pensar.
Na descrição da máfia é variantes italianas é curiosa a descrição que faz da forma como obras icónicas influenciaram a opinião pública, romantizando a actividade mas também o seu papel “didático” nesse mundo de banditismo dando-lhe uma áurea romântica que a atividade sempre desmentiria. É mesmo curioso saber que em algumas organizações estas obras eram obrigatórias como “currículo” formativo.
Melhorou muito, e daí a pontuação, quando abordou as máfias russa, Ucrâniana e Tchechena. Bem sistematizado, explica bem a origem, as motivações e a evolução. Se tivesse só escrito isto seria um bom livro.
Ao entrar no mundo do terrorismo e querendo fazer passar essas organizações por máfias introduz confusão adicional que seria dispensável.
Voltou a perder-se quando regressou ao presente americano, quando descreveu o mundo dos cartéis, em particular o mexicano - muito confuso.
Resumindo, uma boa ideia que podia e devia ser melhor conseguida. Vale pelo excesso de informação que condensa.
April 13, 2026
I mean, he isn't lying when he says it's a global history. While I found it fascinating, I also felt like it didn't dive as deeply as it could because he was trying to cover so much. If it had been multiple books based on regions or years, maybe that would have helped? Maybe it's just a me problem.
July 29, 2026
Haciendo alusión a las reflexiones finales por parte del autor, me alejo de la crítica que señala la falta de profundidad en ciertos periodos históricos, personajes u organizaciones. En un tema como este, donde apenas se ha empezado a ver la luz en cuanto a incipientes trabajos de investigación con la dura tarea de recopilar información sobre un mundo que se desarrolla a las sombras del esclarecimiento, ofrecer una visión general que familiariza al lector con los aspectos esenciales sobre la génesis y las consecuencias del crimen organizado en la sociedad justifica toda recomendación sobre este libro. La frustración inherente a no haber podido memorizar con suficiente soltura cada uno de los entramados y conflictos de intereses que aparecen en esta obra no significa nada en comparación con el aprendizaje global que me ha proporcionado, sobre todo a la hora de contribuir a establecer una base que me permita indagar sobre las finas líneas que separan todo aquello que damos por sentado desde la ignorancia y la complejidad de una realidad por la que tener el privilegio de sentir curiosidad.
July 7, 2026
Световна история на мафията – огледалния образ на държавата: https://knigolandia.info/mafia-svetov...
Надолу ще се опра почти изцяло на цитати от книгата, стилът на Джинджърас е ясен и изчистен – където е нужно, е прецизен като скалпел, а другаде избира да е по-експресивен, стига това да не нарушава стройното му хронологично изложение, което започва с бандитизма и предисторията на мафията, продължава с раждането на организираната престъпност покрай криминализацията на порока, проследява появата на мафиите в началото на XX век и глобализирането им при преминаването от търговия с алкохол към наркотици. Основен акцент в книгата е как причудливо филмът „Кръстникът“ влияе на старите мафии в най-силния им период, как се променят те през десетилетията и къде се намират сега, през XXI век, когато симбиозата им с властта е вече неприкрита. Джинджърас пише към края: „В крайна сметка как да наречем държава или корпорация, занимаваща се с организирана престъпна дейност? И кое е по-различното при мафиотите, след като толкова политици и бизнесмени се държат по същия начин?“
Ciela Books
https://knigolandia.info/mafia-svetov...
Надолу ще се опра почти изцяло на цитати от книгата, стилът на Джинджърас е ясен и изчистен – където е нужно, е прецизен като скалпел, а другаде избира да е по-експресивен, стига това да не нарушава стройното му хронологично изложение, което започва с бандитизма и предисторията на мафията, продължава с раждането на организираната престъпност покрай криминализацията на порока, проследява появата на мафиите в началото на XX век и глобализирането им при преминаването от търговия с алкохол към наркотици. Основен акцент в книгата е как причудливо филмът „Кръстникът“ влияе на старите мафии в най-силния им период, как се променят те през десетилетията и къде се намират сега, през XXI век, когато симбиозата им с властта е вече неприкрита. Джинджърас пише към края: „В крайна сметка как да наречем държава или корпорация, занимаваща се с организирана престъпна дейност? И кое е по-различното при мафиотите, след като толкова политици и бизнесмени се държат по същия начин?“
Ciela Books
https://knigolandia.info/mafia-svetov...
March 19, 2026
A fascinating history looking at power, orthodoxy and the monopolisation of violence.
Ryan Gingeras takes a global view to the concept of ‘mafia’. The term itself gets a much wider definition you might expect, so it comes to include bandits of the Ottoman Empire, progenitors and practitioners of the Triad, Indian gamblers and English gangs. Gingeras takes the view that any organised activity that uses violence and operates separately to state authority could be considered a “mafia”. This is a brilliant analysis to look through the history of power with and makes for an exceptionally good history book.
Not to downplay the rest of the book too much, but the first 2 chapters are far and away the best. Chapter 6 comes close too, clearly making up the core of what Gingeras is most familiar with. Chapters 1 and 2 focus on laying out Gingeras’ framework, and explaining the method behind the violence of a mafia. It’s all interesting work, and Gingeras shows off his detailed understanding of Ottoman imperial power in his analysis of the infamous Ali Pasha.
It’s a good history book, with some great chapters but my biggest issue is that the chapters could easily be chopped up. Whilst each for an overarching theme, all of them are simply way too long. For example where a whole chapter is devoted to the decline and transformation of the “mafia” Gingeras could’ve separated these into two distinct chapter in themselves. Because the analysis is fascinating but it far too quickly gets murky by moving too quickly between different transformations of non-state violence depending on which state Gingeras is talking about. This is a common issue in the book but it’s particularly highlighted when discussing how the end of the Cold War and 911 has thrown a spanner in the works.
On the whole though, this is a fresh historical analysis with plenty to say and an interesting subject. Worth checking out for any history nerd or fan of The Godfather.
Ryan Gingeras takes a global view to the concept of ‘mafia’. The term itself gets a much wider definition you might expect, so it comes to include bandits of the Ottoman Empire, progenitors and practitioners of the Triad, Indian gamblers and English gangs. Gingeras takes the view that any organised activity that uses violence and operates separately to state authority could be considered a “mafia”. This is a brilliant analysis to look through the history of power with and makes for an exceptionally good history book.
Not to downplay the rest of the book too much, but the first 2 chapters are far and away the best. Chapter 6 comes close too, clearly making up the core of what Gingeras is most familiar with. Chapters 1 and 2 focus on laying out Gingeras’ framework, and explaining the method behind the violence of a mafia. It’s all interesting work, and Gingeras shows off his detailed understanding of Ottoman imperial power in his analysis of the infamous Ali Pasha.
It’s a good history book, with some great chapters but my biggest issue is that the chapters could easily be chopped up. Whilst each for an overarching theme, all of them are simply way too long. For example where a whole chapter is devoted to the decline and transformation of the “mafia” Gingeras could’ve separated these into two distinct chapter in themselves. Because the analysis is fascinating but it far too quickly gets murky by moving too quickly between different transformations of non-state violence depending on which state Gingeras is talking about. This is a common issue in the book but it’s particularly highlighted when discussing how the end of the Cold War and 911 has thrown a spanner in the works.
On the whole though, this is a fresh historical analysis with plenty to say and an interesting subject. Worth checking out for any history nerd or fan of The Godfather.
July 23, 2026
A catchy title
This a dense non-fiction compilation of a highly researched assay on criminal enterprises of which mafia is one of many iterations. Admittedly, the way Prof. Fingers structured it was a bit confusing as there wasn't a coherent timeline but rather a combination of geography and timelines story drivers. The main thesis is that criminal organizations are pragmatic and apolitical but they are deeply embedded in the governing institutions and almost all (with very few exceptions) politicians across all geographies, ideology and ranks were, are and likely will be in business with them. A second thesis is that in their last iteration, criminal organizations are engaging and embedding terroristic groups as the latter finance themselves through drug dealings.
I read it all but struggled to follow the jumps across the COs, the timing of actions and the geography.
This a dense non-fiction compilation of a highly researched assay on criminal enterprises of which mafia is one of many iterations. Admittedly, the way Prof. Fingers structured it was a bit confusing as there wasn't a coherent timeline but rather a combination of geography and timelines story drivers. The main thesis is that criminal organizations are pragmatic and apolitical but they are deeply embedded in the governing institutions and almost all (with very few exceptions) politicians across all geographies, ideology and ranks were, are and likely will be in business with them. A second thesis is that in their last iteration, criminal organizations are engaging and embedding terroristic groups as the latter finance themselves through drug dealings.
I read it all but struggled to follow the jumps across the COs, the timing of actions and the geography.
May 15, 2026
The books lacks of depth, trying to tell the whole story of humankind in few pages. was stuck for a month
July 24, 2026
Nada nuevo...
Algo que siempre me ha interesado saber sobre el crimen organizado, es conocer qué ha pasado con todo el dinero incautado . No hay una sola palabra sobre eso. Y los paraísos fiscales? Quién se queda con ese dinero? Ni una sola palabra. El dinero de la venta de drogas en dónde se deposita? Dónde se invierte? Ni una sola palabra. Abunda la crónica roja pero cero información de las finanzas del crimen.
Algo que siempre me ha interesado saber sobre el crimen organizado, es conocer qué ha pasado con todo el dinero incautado . No hay una sola palabra sobre eso. Y los paraísos fiscales? Quién se queda con ese dinero? Ni una sola palabra. El dinero de la venta de drogas en dónde se deposita? Dónde se invierte? Ni una sola palabra. Abunda la crónica roja pero cero información de las finanzas del crimen.
March 29, 2026
started off like it could be interesting and most of it was. but the further in time it goes what it ignores is fairly apparent...no mention of operation gladio, the contras, or much analysis in how the US uses cartels to undermine the Left globally. But it has all the time in the world to speculate on Hugo Chavez's possible connection to cartels. Sure, leftwing groups do get into the drug trade, but if your not gonna discuss organized crime in the context of how the United States legalized opium cultivation after it invaded Afghanistan then what are you really doing
June 17, 2026
Mafia klingt erstmal nach dunklen Hinterzimmern, Zigarrenrauch, teuren Anzügen und irgendeinem Typen, der mit ruhiger Stimme sagt, dass er dir ein Angebot macht, das du nicht ablehnen kannst. Ryan Gingeras zieht einem diesen Film aber ziemlich schnell aus dem Kopf und legt stattdessen ein weltweites Netz auf den Tisch, bei dem man zwischendurch denkt: Na super, schlafen wird heute auch wieder schwierig.
Dieses Buch ist kein reißerischer Gangstertrip, sondern ein historisch sauber aufgebauter Blick auf organisierte Kriminalität. La Cosa Nostra, Kartelle, Yakuza, russische Wory, politische Verbindungen, Geldwäsche, Gewalt, Macht und diese unfassbar dreiste Nähe zu Wirtschaft und Staat. Das liest sich stellenweise erschreckend aktuell, weil man merkt, dass Mafia eben nicht nur ein altes Schwarzweißfoto mit Al Capone ist, sondern ein System, das sich ständig neu verkleidet.
Besonders stark fand ich den globalen Blick. Gingeras zeigt, wie unterschiedlich diese Strukturen entstanden sind und wie ähnlich sie am Ende doch funktionieren. Kontrolle, Angst, Geld, Einfluss. Ganz ehrlich, manchmal sitzt man da und denkt: Das ist kein True Crime mehr, das ist Weltpolitik mit schmutzigen Händen.
Nicht alles zündet gleich stark. Bei manchen Gruppen hätte ich mir mehr Tiefe gewünscht, mehr Fleisch am Knochen, mehr dieses unangenehme Gefühl, wirklich mitten drin zu stecken. Durch den riesigen Umfang wirkt einiges eher wie ein großer Überblick als wie eine knallharte Detailanalyse. Trotzdem bleibt das Buch wichtig, klug und stellenweise richtig packend.
Für alle, die Mafia nicht nur als Filmstoff sehen wollen, sondern verstehen möchten, warum organisierte Kriminalität bis heute so gefährlich mächtig ist, lohnt sich dieses Buch definitiv. Kein leichter Snack, eher ein kräftiger schwarzer Kaffee mit bitterem Nachgeschmack.
Dieses Buch ist kein reißerischer Gangstertrip, sondern ein historisch sauber aufgebauter Blick auf organisierte Kriminalität. La Cosa Nostra, Kartelle, Yakuza, russische Wory, politische Verbindungen, Geldwäsche, Gewalt, Macht und diese unfassbar dreiste Nähe zu Wirtschaft und Staat. Das liest sich stellenweise erschreckend aktuell, weil man merkt, dass Mafia eben nicht nur ein altes Schwarzweißfoto mit Al Capone ist, sondern ein System, das sich ständig neu verkleidet.
Besonders stark fand ich den globalen Blick. Gingeras zeigt, wie unterschiedlich diese Strukturen entstanden sind und wie ähnlich sie am Ende doch funktionieren. Kontrolle, Angst, Geld, Einfluss. Ganz ehrlich, manchmal sitzt man da und denkt: Das ist kein True Crime mehr, das ist Weltpolitik mit schmutzigen Händen.
Nicht alles zündet gleich stark. Bei manchen Gruppen hätte ich mir mehr Tiefe gewünscht, mehr Fleisch am Knochen, mehr dieses unangenehme Gefühl, wirklich mitten drin zu stecken. Durch den riesigen Umfang wirkt einiges eher wie ein großer Überblick als wie eine knallharte Detailanalyse. Trotzdem bleibt das Buch wichtig, klug und stellenweise richtig packend.
Für alle, die Mafia nicht nur als Filmstoff sehen wollen, sondern verstehen möchten, warum organisierte Kriminalität bis heute so gefährlich mächtig ist, lohnt sich dieses Buch definitiv. Kein leichter Snack, eher ein kräftiger schwarzer Kaffee mit bitterem Nachgeschmack.
December 7, 2025
Mafia is a global history of organized crime. From very early bandits to today's organized criminals, it covers a lot of history. It was highly researched to get all the information that was included. The term Mafia was originally applied to the Sicilian Mafia. The term Mafia expanded to encompass other organizations of world wide criminal groups. The movie "The Godfather" and other movies open up people's imagination about the Mafia. Al Capone, Pablo Escobar, Miguel Félix Gallard and South American cartels are also covered. It also gets into the East European Mafias. The book covers everything .If you want to know the long read of organized crime this is the book for you. I would like to thank Simon & Schuster for a free advanced copy to read.
April 30, 2026
There is a lot of interesting information in this book, but the presentation is lacking. When people say they don't like non-fiction this is a prime example of why. I did do the audio version of this book and there was many times I just could not maintain focus. I think Gingeras tried to conquer too much - lack of stories to maintain interest. Also a broad brush - for instance I have grown up in a certain area that is known to have the Mafia. He mentioned this state in the book but failed to say if it was the more of the northern or southern part of the state. Nothing was mentioned about it again.
How did this book find me? A new book with a subject I find interesting.
How did this book find me? A new book with a subject I find interesting.
August 8, 2026
I agree with others that this constitutes a monumental undertaking - too much really. Loaded with facts and stories but the author jumps so quickly from place to place, boss to boss, and decade to decade that it becomes hard to follow. Chapters are too long, as are most paragraphs. There's a wealth of information, and overall it was a decent time investment. The book would have been better if the content had been more limited and better organized.
May 2, 2026
Zeer boeiende en leuke leeservaring, geen vijf sterren, maar 4 omdat ik het soms een beetje te gejaagd vind, en er soms dieper mag gegaan worden op sommige mensen of organizaties.
Maar zeker interessant en goed onderbouwd.
Maar zeker interessant en goed onderbouwd.
June 23, 2026
Impulse buy, from the counter next to the check out in a bookshop I respect. More fool me.
Absolutely naff. A book for people who live on the first page of Google.
(*ive added a second star because some of the tabloid style fact finding made me laugh).
Absolutely naff. A book for people who live on the first page of Google.
(*ive added a second star because some of the tabloid style fact finding made me laugh).
March 12, 2026
3.5 stars
April 10, 2026
GANG GANG
April 20, 2026
Somehow, Gingeras’s disjointed narrative made this boring.
July 26, 2026
So disappointed with this was expecting a history of the mafia but was literally a psychology book
August 3, 2026
Lots of detail but wish there were more stories. Well researched; dryly written.
April 12, 2026
Prostitution and drugs are two main revenue for a lot of mafia and mafia adjacent organizations. The book covers a bit of history of mafia groups (they have various names and mafia is a good generic term).
Narrator was good, listened at 2.5 speed.
Narrator was good, listened at 2.5 speed.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews