By describing and analyzing both the social world and the social system of organized crime, the author provides a new perspective on racial and ethnic stereotypes in the study of organized crime and offers a penetrating look at one of the most misunderstood aspects of American society. He views organized crime as both a social system and a social world. The social system in New York during the 1930-1950 period was composed of relationships binding professional criminals, politicians, law enforcement, and various entrepreneurs. The social world was often chaotic because professional criminals were oriented by constant manifestations of personal power. The pursuit of power served to connect and cement relationships among professional criminals. Organized crime coalitions were engaged in many forms of criminal activity and penetrated industry and the government. Many professional criminals played various social roles, however, and were not inhibited by an organized hierarchy or restricted to specialized tasks. The structure of power syndicates was simple and flexible, allowing members to engage in a variety of illegal activities and to be involved in various complex networks in addition to their primary mob. The most efficiently organized criminals were the most individualistic and the least committed to particular structures. Detailed examples are provided of organized criminal activities in New York between 1930 and 1950. Notes, tables, figures, and photographs