[mpyne]

Just because the mafia doesn't simply break knees randomly doesn't mean that the threat of violence doesn't underpin the mafia's operations.

Yes, this includes targeted killings and violent extortion when required. Since this threat has been proven credible it's normally not required to actually break people; people simply give up before the tire irons have to be brought out.

[tn13]

Yes and large co bosses also behave in a similar fashion. Very often the kind of people Mafia deals with is the one that normally does not have anything other then their life to lose, but when it comes to large co bosses they are dealing with people who have too much to lose and hence a mere threat of legal action works even if that legal action is totally frivolous.