Final answer:
Organized crime can infiltrate society by taking over legitimate businesses, enforcing protection rackets, and influencing labor unions. Historical figures like Al Capone illustrate how organized crime empires can control and corrupt economic and social systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Organized crime can infiltrate a society in several ways:
- Legitimate business takeover: Organized crime groups can take over legitimate businesses to launder money and create a facade for illegal activities.
- Protection rackets: They may offer protection to merchants and businesses in exchange for a "tax", essentially forcing them to pay for safety and creating a system of extortion.
- Labor union influence: By gaining control over labor unions, organized crime can manipulate the workforce, control jobs, extend their influence, and create avenues for money laundering.
Examples of organized crime infiltration include the era of Prohibition, where crime bosses like Al Capone ran extensive illegal activities including bootlegging and prostitution. Capone's empire, known as the Chicago Outfit, was notorious for its economic influence and violent tactics. Organized crime syndicates often become deeply embedded in local economies and societies, sometimes even providing services that overshadow failed government responsibilities, thus creating complex relationships with the communities they operate within.