The relentless rise of the mafia

Ryan Gingeras explains why the 20th century was a golden age for the world's major crime gangs

Published: March 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM

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The 20th century saw the mafia go global. Crime groups, from Japan's Yakuza to southern Italy's Camorra, capitalised on political chaos and mass migration to spread their influence around the world. In this episode, Spencer Mizen and Ryan Gingeras trace the relentless rise of the mafia, a tale that takes in Al Capone, Pablo Escobar and Don Corleone.

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If you'd like to learn more about this subject, then why not check out Ryan's article on the relentless rise of the Mafia in the March issue of HistoryExtra Magazine. You can find that in the HistoryExtra app. Go beyond the podcast.

Authors

Spencer MizenSenior production editor

Spencer is senior production editor of HistoryExtra magazine

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