Abstract
The attractiveness of alien conspiracy theories in American public opinion stretches back to the early days of the Republic. "Mafia" has been the name of one such theory. When placed in context with other conspiracy theories, such as the Bavarian Illuminati scare of 1798- 1799 and the Red Scare of 1919-1920, the reasons for emergence of a "Mafia" theory in 1890-91, and again in 1946-1963, become clear. Contemporary public opinion regarding crime is heavily influenced by the post-World War II resurgence of "Mafia" claims, though the evidence behind them is questionable. The role of "Mafia" as a force in public policy is clear, however, and events of the last decade suggest that the consequent shifts in legal strategies, and an increasing sense of injustice generally, have been greater threats to American society than the presumed alien conspiracy behind the anti-Mafia policies.
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