Great, so we’re talking about the outliers then, not the norm. Thank you for agreeing with me.
In the murky world of organised crime one persons win is another persons loss, so the best way of maximising profit is to knock off the competition. Arbitrators are only useful if you operate in an economy that is non-sero-sum - i.e. by agreeing to keep out of each others way or dividing labour, more profit can be made in an expanding market.
One reason this non-zero-sum environment comes about because the state periodically clamps down on them to prevent the expansion of capital in this industry. No expansion of Capital means a pie that doesn’t increase to it’s potential.
The mafia originated as private defense agencies for citrus farmers in sicily. From the beginning they were exploitative.
People who join the mafia are usually sleazy and willing to kill others, which doesn’t go for the majority of humans on planet Earth. The main apparatus for defense that the majority of humans on planet Earth rely on is a glorified mafia, which they don’t recognize as a glorified mafia. The point still holds that there’s no reason to think that defense companies would rely on murdering others; aside from having a conscience, it seems to be a bad marketing strategy when you are trying to win over customers. The people in the mafia have different goals in mind, since they rely on outlawed industries to make their “killings” in profit and not the free market.
The point I’d like to make is that PDAs would have different incentives and goals than the mafia. In fact, I’d argue the amount of secrecy that the mafia engages in to keep their crimes on the down-low is more resembling of a State, if you ask me.
You’re asking why they don’t want to settle their disputes peacefully. Well, it’s because they are violent people. There.
“The mafia originated as private defense agencies for citrus farmers in sicily.”
Oh, so they were a voluntary organisation who provided services to those demanded (and protected, i.e DEFENDED their customers?)
GREAT! … which just leaves us the problem of your massive non sequitur…
“From the beginning they were exploitative.”
Does not follow…
To explain a component: Suppose you buy some narcotics from El Dealero. You have committed a statutory offense which if discovered by the police will find you arrested. Now suppose El Dealero beats you with a baseball bat just for fun. To make a case against him you must establish evidence of the circumstance of the event that implicates you in the statutory offense you committed. Thus, you must conceal what has been done to you to conceal what you have done.
Regarding gangsters killing each other, I for one like the idea of maniacs killing each other. I just ask that they shoot each other in more secluded locations. A great tragedy was the prohibition of the duel.
Mafia gets money from things that are illegal under the laws of state. In anarcho-capitalism drugs etc. would be legal so mafia wouldn’t get money from them. If they try, they will become just ordinary entrepreneurs.