About this episode
This episode explores the rise of organized crime groups in the 20th century, focusing on the mafia and cartels amidst political and economic turmoil.
The 20th century was a golden age for organised crime groups. This Long Read written by Ryan Gingeras reveals how gangs from the Sicilian Mafia to Mexico’s cartels capitalised on political chaos, economic upheaval and mass migration to spread their tentacles around the world. Today's feature originally appeared in the March 2026 issue of HistoryExtra Magazine, and has been voiced in partnership with the RNIB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Topics covered
- mafia
- organized crime
- Sicilian Mafia
- Mexico's cartels
- political chaos
- economic upheaval
- mass migration
Keywords
- mafia
- organized crime
- Sicilian Mafia
- Mexico cartels
- 20th century
- political chaos
- economic upheaval
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: HistoryExtra Magazine, RNIB
More episodes of HistoryExtra Long Reads
- Lost stories from Pompeii · June 7, 2026 · 24 min
- Nell Gwyn: England's mistress · May 31, 2026 · 18 min
- The Asante gold: a tale of blood and plunder · May 24, 2026 · 21 min
- How medieval mothers took back control · May 17, 2026 · 22 min
- Rome's people power · May 10, 2026 · 22 min
- The 'Iron Curtain' speech: why Churchill poked the Russian bear · May 3, 2026 · 22 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the HistoryExtra Long Reads podcast page.