Mafiocracy unveiled: Understanding the global impact of organized crime on democratic institutions

The phenomenon of mafiocracy presents a substantial challenge to democratic institutions worldwide. Organized crime groups (OCGs) infiltrate state structures, taking advantage of weaknesses to exploit violence, manipulate elections, and corrupt legislation. These groups establish themselves within political spheres, sometimes even posing as legitimate entities through sophisticated public relations strategies. Such infiltration goes beyond simple corruption, with OCGs compromising police forces, bureaucracies, and electoral processes, effectively undermining the rule of law and assuming governmental roles. The global scope of mafiocracy, traditionally associated with post-Soviet states, poses threats to democracy, human rights, and economic development worldwide, calling for concerted attention and intervention.

This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of mafiocracy by examining the mechanisms through which organized crime undermines governmental institutions and processes. We intend to shed light on how these groups employ violence, bribery, and deceit in electoral systems, compromising governance and public trust in state institutions. Through this exploration, we seek to understand the causes and effects on social, political, and economic development as well as the challenges faced by governmental authorities and integrity agencies in countering these threats. The ultimate goal is to pave the way for developing targeted strategies that reinforce democracy and bolster legal frameworks to combat mafiocracy.

To gather further insights on the complex dynamics of mafiocracy and its global impact, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• The mechanisms of electoral and bureaucratic manipulation by organized crime
• The impact on human rights and governance quality
• Comparative analyses across regions or case studies of state capture by organized crime at the national, state/province, or municipal level
• Strategies for strengthening democratic institutions and rule of law
• The effectiveness of multi-stakeholder collaborations in combating organized crime’s influence

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: mafiocracy, organized crime, democratic institutions, electoral manipulation, rule of law, political corruption

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.