Relations between state and mafia

Power gained legitimacy through social contracts. Governments monopolized violence since Machiavelli and Hobbes. According to Weber, the only device that has a legitimate monopoly of violence within a given territory is the state. In Europe was not an absence of authority, but a multiplicity of authority in history. State-building process, many groups use a different kinds of violence. With the establishment of standing armies, national states were formed. The state must know the population for military and tax. Elements such as assets required for the existence and maintenance of the army, the institutionalization of taxation, and compulsory service formed the basis of the state.

There are some similarities and differences between state and mafia. According to Tilly, the state is an advanced gang that has managed to destroy other gangs. In Godfather, Corleone has power and traditional authority. However, traditional authority is not valid in the modern state, he can punish but it is illegal. The state is a legal mafia. The state is considered legitimate by the community, it fought for a long time to gain this legitimacy. Mafias within the country may use violence, but they have no legal power. The state is the only legitimate actor. Mafias are inherently unlawful, while states use power thanks to the law. States created strong bureaucracy and institutions to maintain orders. Mafias use force without legitimacy. The state collects taxes but the mafia collects tribute forcefully. The state provides people with work, salary, and education. States, mafias want money to protect you from possible damages, they are a source of these damages. ​Both set rules themselves and apply them. They prevent competition inside. "War making and state making as organized crime. State as an organized crime in the world”.