The course analyzes five criminal organizations that have emerged in different times and contexts: the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, the American Mafia, the Russian Mafia, the Hong Kong Triads and the Japanese Yakuza. We explore the extent to which these cases, notwithstanding their differences, share crucial characteristics and features. The course begins by defining State, Mafia group, Mafia and organized crime, and distinguishes the Mafia from superficially related phenomena, such as corruption and patronage. The course examines parallels between state behavior in early modern Europe and Mafia behavior as well as the nature of the protection market and what Mafias do in both legal and illegal markets. The second part of the course focuses on how Mafias perform their roles. We shall study the resources, the organization, and instances of co-operation and competition between Mafias. The third part of the course analyzes the relationships between Mafias and other organizations, such as states, political parties, and politicians. We shall ask whether `Mafia protection' is supplied by organizations other than Mafias, such as insurgent and nationalist movements. Finally, the course explores the factors that facilitate the emergence, the expansion and the decline of Mafias. Special attention will be paid to the origins of Mafias. The course is multidisciplinary and draws on concepts from political theory, industrial economics, and political economy, as well as on the history and sociology of different countries, such as Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Russia, and the United States. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: midterm exam, final exam, and a term paper. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 25). Preference to first-year students, sophomores, and majors.