Efficient use of violence requires centralized, hierarchical firm organization

Evidence

The internal organization of individual firms presents no special theoretical difficulties. One can expect it to be military in nature, that is, centralized and hierarchical, for we know that in this market the use of violence is essential, and, regardless of other considerations, the efficient deployment of force requires an organization of this type (see Chapter 5 for additional evidence). But there remains one important question: What happens when there is more than one protection firm in any given market? Does it make sense for firms to be organized among themselves? — Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Business of…, 182

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Regime capacity to mobilize violence depends on patron-client networks and assets — Johan Brosché and Hanne Fjelde and Kristine Höglund, Electoral violence and the legacy of…, 83; High-capacity regimes are likelier to involve state violent specialists in whatever collective violence occurs — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 737