American society was justly famed in the nineteenth century for the richness of its associational life. Indeed, as we have seen, Alexis de Tocqueville had seen this as one of the foundations of the country's success as a democracy. Yet the very ease with which social networks could form in the United States created a vulnerability that was ruthlessly exploited by a foreign network imported into the country during the great influx of migrants from southern Italy that occurred in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth: the Mafia.
The rich associational life of American society in the nineteenth century was widely recognized and praised, particularly by figures like Alexis de Tocqueville, who identified it as a cornerstone of democracy in the nation. This vibrancy in social networks highlighted the strength of American civil society and its ability to foster connections among citizens.
However, this very openness to forming social alliances also left the society exposed to exploitation. During the significant influx of migrants from southern Italy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Mafia took advantage of these conditions to establish a foothold in the country, demonstrating how outside influences could infiltrate and manipulate the burgeoning social networks within America.
