Final answer:
Sicilian Mafia clans are organized around 'families & extended families', akin to clans in traditional societies. They are based on kinship and loyalty, with power concentrated in families. The correct answer is D) Syndicates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sicilian Mafia clans are organized around extended families and kinship networks, which are critical for their structure and operation. These clans form the basic social unit, similar to tribal societies that rely on extended family structures to organize leadership, decision-making, and conflict resolution. Leadership within these groups is often provided by elders and situational leaders. Mafia clans, like the ones in Sicily, are typically highly secretive and bound by a sense of loyalty, with power concentrated among a select number of families.
In the context of the multiple choices provided, Sicilian Mafia clans are organized around 'families & extended families', which corresponds closest to the concept of a 'clan' as defined in numerous sociological references. This term has been historically used to describe groups that share a common ancestry and that may hold control over certain resources in a semi-nomadic or tribal context. Therefore, the correct answer to the given question is option D) Syndicates.