Autonomy was the key element missing in other parts of the Mediterranean. Its absence prevented countries such as Greece from developing a mafia despite the widespread existence of armed gangs, bandies, and outlaws and the difficulty of imposing effective state control during the nineteenth century (Koliopoulos 1987).

DEFINE: The passage clarifies that mafia formation depends on political autonomy rather than mere state weakness or armed gang presence.

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 203