ABSTRACT
Identifying the causes of much of the serious violence that occurs amongst actors situated at the higher levels of the trade is problematic. The business and personal identities of these individuals intersect and overlap, and therefore actors can perpetrate violence for many non-economic reasons. The chapter explores the acculturation to brutality that occurs among some actors, the role of fear and rage in violent encounters, and the proliferation of feuds and conflicts amongst ‘gangsters’ as actors seek vengeance when they are offended against. They perpetrate moralistic violence in their quest for justice. Serious criminals develop a violent practice and protect their personal and business reputations with ferocity. Personal dispositions contribute to regular practice in this arena as the trade is dominated by hostile and conflict-oriented actors. Further, this chapter finds that, for some actors, taking life is a hazard of the trade and killing others becomes part of the practice of serious criminals.
