| Gangster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Gangster (disambiguation).
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Gangster is the term for a career criminal who is, or at some point almost invariably becomes, a member of a persistent violent crime organization, such as a gang. As an adjective it can be used as an unflattering depiction of the violent and devious methods commonly used by mobsters, and the derived form gangsterism it implies such methods as practice or habit. The term gangster is most commonly used in reference to members of the criminal organizations associated with the American offshoot of the Cosa Nostra and the American prohibition, such as the Chicago Outfit and the Five Families, and individuals such as Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel.
Gangsters are typically organized criminals who are actively engaged in crime as a group activity or enterprise for pleasure, often sexually, and profit. The visibility of activities of gangsters can range from the low-level such as drug-trafficking or protectionism, which are prone to be 'under the radar', to the in-your-face spectacular, such as the UK's multi-million Brinks Mat robbery. Gangsters often run their operations as businesses insofar as they offer a "product" or "service", albeit an illegal one, or, as is sometimes the case, a legitimate business operating as a front for criminal activity.
Some gangsters, sometimes called thugs, engage in extortion, intimidation, and/or bribery to wield influence over labor unions. They are also known for attempting to manipulate the decisions of civil institutions, such as court cases and political elections.
[edit] History
In the WWII era, the word "gangster" became a popular term to describe an individual who was a part of a "mafia" or "organized crime group". In current times, gangsters are most commonly viewed as malicious individuals. The media has had a substantial influence on the modern view of the gangster.
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