Greek Mafia and Organized Crime: examining perceptions, overlaps, and definitional challenges through qualitative research

• In Event: WG Organized Crime and Criminal Networks Panel 4. Mafias & governance-type organized crime

Abstract

The distinction between Mafia and Organized Crime remains a subject of debate in criminological research. While both involve structured criminal activities, the Mafia is often characterized by a strong socio-political dimension, territorial control, and enduring cultural traditions, whereas organized crime encompasses a broader range of illicit enterprises without necessarily adhering to a rigid hierarchy or social identity. Understanding these definitional differences is crucial for analysing criminal structures across different contexts.

As research on the Greek Mafia and organized crime in Greece remains relatively limited compared to studies in other countries, this qualitative study, based on interviews with 23 participants—including journalists, lawyers, and police officers—examines how professionals in the field perceive the phenomenon. Simultaneously, the analysis of findings necessitates an exploration of the concepts of organized crime and the Mafia, along with the key critical criminological theories developed around them, with the ultimate aim of identifying points of convergence and divergence between the Greek Mafia’s ways of operating and organized criminal activities in Greece to determine their distinguishing and overlapping characteristics.

The findings emphasize the necessity of a clear and consistent terminology across professions such as journalism, law, and law enforcement to ensure that all actors involved—from offenders to the general public—understand the legal implications and judicial approaches to these forms of criminality.



Keywords: Organized crime, Greek Mafia, critical criminology, Greek Police, news reports, qualitative research

Author

• Stefani Efraimidou, HELLLENIC OPEN UNIVERSITY (H.O.U.)