Re Order versus disorder and lobbyists condottieri

Re Patricia Mathews' post, on DK's site, a look at Wikipedia firms up my recollection of one theory of the origins of the Mafia, as revolt against Anjou rule in Sicily, in the 13th Century.

True or not, it seems to have started at least in part as an organization for security, if not also for despotic power, in a lawless and/or hostile political place.

That is the kind of relatively lawless world, such as many places have never left behind, and toward which some even of our 'civilized' political practices appear once again to tend.