Mafia skills emerged from reputation networks fostered in the rural western interior

Evidence

It should also be interesting to see whether each player can really discern when the other is “testing” his determination, “daring” him, and so forth; and it might be possible to study the process by which particular encounters become invested with symbolic importance, such that each player recognizes that he is establishing a role and reputation in the way he conducts himself at a particular point in the game. — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 381 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Distrust has multiple settlements, so an extra factor explains mafia origin; The mafia originated in diverse occupational groups sharing reputation as guarantors; The mafia required both rural skills and urban commerce from its start (+1 more)

Related

• Reputation is the mafia firm’s core but fragile asset (similarity 0.86)
• Particular encounters acquire symbolic weight because players know reputation is at stake (similarity 0.86)
• The mafia originated in diverse occupational groups sharing reputation as guarantors (similarity 0.79)
• Mafia existed in towns as well as countryside from the start. (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• The mafia required both rural skills and urban commerce from its start #expands (0.85)
• Particular encounters acquire symbolic weight because players know reputation is at stake #expands (0.78) — Thomas C. Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, 381