Description
Book SynopsisDespite a rapidly changing economic and legal landscape, Italian mafias remain prominent actors in the global criminal underworld. This book provides an extensive and up-to-date view of how they adapt to shifting economic opportunities and intensifying legal and civic backlash.
Surveying the main Italian mafias active today - Cosa Nostra, the 'Ndrangheta, the Camorra and the Sacra Corona Unita - the contributors provide a broad overview of key themes and research findings, offering new theoretical and methodological lenses for analysing how Italy's four native mafias have adapted to recent challenges. Investigating their global and national impact, this book analyses new insights into the operations and trajectories of Italian mafias in the 21st century.
Employing fresh empirical material, this book is essential reading for students of Italian studies at all levels, as well as those of criminology, security, political science, sociology and organised crime studies. Policy-makers and practitioners tackling organised crime will also benefit from this book's critical insight into the history, operation and pathways of Italian mafias today.
Contributors include: F. Allum, L. Brancaccio, D. Bright, E. Ciconte, I. Clough Marinaro, A. Colletti, G. Corica, J. Dagnes, N. Dalla Chiesa, A. Dino, D. Donatiello, M. Giuditta Borselli, A. La Spina, V. Martone, M. Massari, R. Merlino, V. Mete, S. Sberna, R. Sciarrone, L. Storti, A. Vannucci
Trade Review‘This book should appeal, in primis, to criminologists and social scientists. However, I would strongly recommend it to anyone who may have an academic or personal interest in understanding recent Italian history. Above all, I would recommend it to law- and policy-makers internationally, for Italy's long tug-of-war with the mafias has many useful lessons to teach to countries and communities that have not yet experienced the scourge of criminal power syndicates operating in their midst, or that collude with such syndicates by offering far-from-transparent financial services—hence contributing to the enormous human suffering and grave social devastation that the mafias have been causing since the 19 century.’ -- Giorgio Baruchello, Nordicum-Mediterraneum
‘By merit of its scope, topics of inquiry and analytical rigor, Italian Mafias Today: Territory, Business and Politics
makes valuable, unique contributions to the diversified field of studies on the Italian mafias.’ -- Robin Pickering-Iazzi, Journal of Modern Italian Studies
‘Overall, the significant contribution of this book is to represent a landmark in the organised crime literature. It provides theoretical insights into this complex issue which extends the reader’s knowledge and provides a critical understanding of the phenomenon. The language is clear, and the variety of empirical and fresh data presented makes it intriguing for readers. It is highly recommended for students interested in this topic and for academics/practitioners intending to expand their understanding further.’ -- Emanuele Sclafani, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books
'This book is a welcome exposure to research on four Italian mafias - the already well-studied Sicilian Cosa Nostra and the Neapolitan Camorra; the less familiar, although hyper-dangerous, Calabrian 'Ndrangheta; and the somewhat peripheral mafia of Puglia, emergent in the 1970s and '80s. We are beholden to the editors of this volume for making this material accessible to English language readers, organizing it so effectively, and providing a comprehensive overview of Italian scholarship on the Italian mafias.' --Jane Schneider, The Graduate Center CUNY, US
'This is not a book that lingers long on individual characters. It is a documented assessment of the history and evolution of the four major Italian-based criminal organizations. This is a well-researched and compellingly argued book.' --Antonio Nicaso, Queen's University, Canada
Table of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction: Thinking about Italian mafias today Felia Allum, Isabella Clough Marinaro and Rocco Sciarrone Part I MAFIAS IN TRADITIONAL TERRITORIES 2. Waiting for a new leader: Eras and transitions in Cosa Nostra Alessandra Dino 3. The Camorras in Naples and Campania: Business, groups and families Luciano Brancaccio and Vittorio Martone 4. ’Ndrangheta: A (post-)modern mafia with ancient roots Enzo Ciconte 5. The Sacra Corona Unita: The birth and decline of the fourth mafia? Monica Massari Part II MAFIAS BETWEEN POLITICS, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY 6. The economic dimension of mafias, social capital and the ‘grey area’ Rocco Sciarrone 7. Mafias and political corruption in Italy Salvatore Sberna and Alberto Vannucci 8. The welfare system of Italian mafias Alessandro Colletti 9. Pizzini: Sicilian mafia culture between continuity and change Rossella Merlino Part III MAFIAS IN NON-TRADITIONAL TERRITORIES 10. Lombardy, the long march of the ’Ndrangheta: Old history and new stories Nando dalla Chiesa 11. Mafias in Emilia Romagna Graziana Corica and Vittorio Mete 12. Rome ‘open city’? Camorra expansions into the Italian capital Isabella Clough Marinaro and Maria Giuditta Borselli 13. Italian mafias across Europe Joselle Dagnes, Davide Donatiello and Luca Storti 14. Italian mafias in Australia: The dominance of the Calabrian ’Ndrangheta Felia Allum and David Bright 15. The anti-mafia fight in Italy and abroad Antonio La Spina Bibliography Index
