Final answer:
The two main schools of thought regarding the Italian Mafia are Positivist, which regards the Mafia as a result of specific social and biological circumstances, and Constructionist, which examines the societal construction of the Mafia and its cultural representation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two main schools of thought surrounding the Italian Mafia are Positivist and Constructionist. The Positivist perspective views the Mafia as a product of certain social and biological conditions, suggesting that certain individuals are predisposed to such behavior due to their environment or even genetic factors. By contrast, the Constructionist school focuses on the social construction of the Mafia, examining how societal norms, rules, and interactions create the conditions necessary for organized crime to flourish. This school also considers how the mafia itself is perceived and represented in society. Neither school suggests that the existence of the Mafia is justified or acceptable; instead, they seek to understand the different factors and structures that lead to its emergence and persistence.