Gangster

As gangsters are as anglicism in Germany mainly criminals, criminals or habitual criminals referred to, ie people that money through illegal methods ( AmE " Racketeering " ), such as, inter alia, Robbery, theft, drug trafficking, extortion, murder, generate.

In contrast to the American origin of the word, the emphasis is in German rather on the individual perpetrator and only secondarily with respect to group membership in a criminal organization.

Etymology

The term gangster is originally from English and referred mainly in a band ( engl. "gang" ) acting persons.

The Gangster - whether as an individual or in a gang - but is by no means to be equated with persons of organized crime. For this purpose exists in English, the term Mobster and in the narrower sense of persons belonging to a mafia, Cosa Nostra or La Cosa Nostra.

For the classic single perpetrator - for example, for a drug dealer or pickpocket - is in English, the term " Hustler " ( " crook," " swindler ", etc.) use.

Examples

For gangster in connection with a criminal street gang operating organization or the Bloods or Crips also are a recent example. You gain much of their money from the drug trade in particular.

Adaptations

In a slight modification of the term is spoken since the financial crisis from 2007 of " banksters " in order anzuzprangern the assumed frivolous and irresponsible handling of bankers (English for " banker" ) criminal with foreign money than in principle.

In numerous gangster films - a film genre of the detective film - Gangster are presented both positive and negative. In addition to the description of illegal activities but also social and / or psychological career of the gangsters are treated in several films. The classic films of the genre was at its peak in the 1930s and established the myth of a life as a gangster.

The apparent free and self-determined - because illegal - habits of these outlaws and bandits radiates until today a certain fascination, which finds its expression in various cultural fields. Thus, for example, treats the Gangsta Rap clichéd the violence-oriented living environment of an American Gangsters - meaning " a member of a ( youth) gang".

• Crime