Political Responses

Abstract

This chapter questions whether the responses by various governments to the perceived OMCG threat is valid. It sets the Italian legislative response to the threat of the Sicilian Mafia ‘Nhranghetta and Camorra as a benchmark. These groups pose a real threat to the social fabric of Italy and the response has been harsh. It is then posited that responses from other nations that equal the severity of the Italian legislation will be justified if they face a similar level of threat. Legislation from Canada, Australia and the United States are examined. Australia is the only nation with laws approaching the Italian model but the OMCG in that nation do not pose the same threat, and thus these laws are hard to justify.