Residence, not ethnicity, governed Sicilian mafia membership and affiliation.

Evidence

The conversation contains other information clarifying the differences between Sicilian and North American mafia membership. The two groups are separate and independent. Violi points out that if a mafioso emigrates to Canada, he must consent to a five-year apprenticeship in a family during which his value will be assessed. Residence is repeatedly cited as the criterion for affiliation: “If [someone] lives there,” meaning Italy, Violi explains, “he can’t be one of us.” — Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Business of…, 300

Categorization

• XREF: The five-year apprenticeship and membership-by-residence mirrors the screening mechanisms Gambetta analyzes as entry controls that protect club-good reputational value — analogous to the Champagne Fairs’ controlled entry.