Shaping mafia power through extortion: the evolution of the pizzo in sicily

Abstract This article examines the evolution of mafia extortion (pizzo) in Sicily, building upon existing literature to propose an integrated perspective on this complex phenomenon. Combining insights from a systematic literature review with empirical data from interviews with experts ( n = 10) and judicial documents from six recent anti-mafia operations (2018–2025), the study explores how the pizzo functions across three interconnected dimensions: economic-relational (generating resources and business connections), political-territorial (exercising control over local communities), and socio-cultural (reinforcing the mafia’s internal cohesion and welfare system). The analysis suggests that while state repression and civil society resistance have challenged Cosa Nostra’s ability to impose the pizzo through violence, the phenomenon has adapted through more subtle forms characterized by mutual convenience and collusive relationships. The study aims to contribute to organized crime scholarship by: (1) offering a framework that connects complementary theoretical perspectives, (2) presenting recent empirical evidence on adaptations in extortion practices, and (3) discussing potential implications for anti-mafia policies that address both coercive and collusive aspects of contemporary mafia extortion.