Historically you’d have to say there is no essential difference. The real justification for government control was violence, both external—conquests—and internal—violent enforcement of laws. Many organized crime groups functioned as local governments.
Protection money is one of the main income sources of mobsters, triads and gangsters all over the world.
The differences were superficial. Kings might claim divine right, or ancient traditions, or to be upholding some law; but their power derived entirely from organized violence; no different from a warlord, bandit chief or crime boss.
However some modern governments—unfortunately not yet most—aspire to a higher ideal. They are genuinely constrained by laws, and sincere efforts are made to obtain the consent of the governed. There are systems in place to push the government toward working for the common good rather than the personal interests of the leaders.
Although none of these efforts are completely successful, it does make some governments and government-like entities different from, and better than, organized crime.
Does the mafia run the government?
Well, because in “every fortune, there is a crime of that fortune”, the mafia can even mean organized criminals masquerading as government officials, too.
The government has no duty to protect citizens, but rather to protect society. The distinction is that government can sacrifice any individual citizen, while supposedly still achieving this goal to protect society as a whole.
What’s the difference between the mafia and any nation’s government in general?
Size is the only difference. A government is a big enough Mafia that has taken over a whole country, governments can choose what education they give their population thus indoctrinating them as they like, thats why they are bigger than mafias in the first place, they get most people to be a part of it so they can keep their power, they make people give up their freedom for a made up sense of safety.
Mafia’s code of honour exists purely because it is the best way to do business. Don’t make them more heroic than they are. They aren’t trying to ‘keep themselves in check’ they just recognize that wanton violence gets more attention.
A government is just a group of people chosen to be exempt from the consequences of their actions, and they usually try to play god and try to change things that cant be changed.
If people cant be trusted to be free why would they be trusted to be powerful.
Is Government a Legal MAFIA?
Yes , government is legal mafia
The reason why we believe its not because government is very good at disguising it
now we all we know life started as single cell creatures right
similarly the origin of government is mafia , basically few war lords fight over and the last man standing becomes the king / president.