Crime, Networks and Power : Transformation of Sicilian Cosa Nostra

This book develops the idea that the Cosa Nostra Sicilian mafia likes and, more than any other criminal organization, follows the patterns of capitalist transformation. The author presents analysis of the mafia under post-fordism capitalism, showing how they rely on increasingly more flexible networks for reasons of both cost and dodging police control, as well as changing their core businesses in relation to the risk that some activities, such as drug trafficking, are likely to incur. Combining sociology, criminology and labour sociology, the book provides an interpretation of Cosa Nostra which focuses on the connection between legal and illegal economies and politics, thus doing away with the idea that organized crime is always an external entity to society. An authoritative and original study, this book will be of particular interest to scholars of criminal justice, politics and economics. Vincenzo Scalia is Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Winchester, UK. His interests range from criminological theory to organized crime and also include police culture, urban security and terrorism Crime, Networks and Power 3 Acknowledgements 6 Contents 7 List of Figures 8 List of Tables 9 1 Introduction 10 References 15 2 The Research of the Giuseppe Impastato Research Centre on the Mafia Phenomenon: More Than Thirty Years of Meticulous Study 16 Introduction 16 Diego Gambetta E La Protezione Immaginata Diego Gambetta and Imagined Protection 19 Arlacchi and Catanzaro: The Limits of Understanding the Mafia as Purely a Business 22 The Paradigm of Complexity: The Analytical Framework and Theoretical Conclusions 25 The Urban Mafia. Public Procurement, Violence and Political Relations 28 The “Mafia of Finance” and Trans-culture 31 Conclusions 32 References 33 3 The Mafia in the Post-Fordist Era 34 Introduction 34 From the Mafioso Bourgeoisie to the Horizontal Mafia: The Transformations in the World of Production and in the Politics of the Mafia 38 Territory and Culture: Continuity and Transformations in the Post-Fordist Mafia 43 The New Mafia and the Outsourcing of the “Dirty” Economies 46 Conclusions 48 References 49 4 Organised Crime or White-Collar Crime? The Case of the Sicilian Mafia 50 Introduction 50 Mafia, Camorra and ‘Ndrangheta: Their Power Relations and Their Relationships with the Powerful 52 White-Collar Industries and the Mafia in Formal Politics. From the Notarbartolo Case to the Massacres of 1992–1993 54 From Agriculture to Wall Street, the Mafia Has Always Been White Collar 56 Conclusions 58 References 58 5 The Sicilian Mafia Under Post-Fordism 60 Introduction 60 Between Industry and Brotherhood: The Short-Range Theories 62 A Way Out: Paradigm of Complexity, Dirty Economies and Post-Fordism 66 Octopus or Network? CN after the Cupola 68 The Economic Network of Cosa Nostra 71 The New Politics of Mafia 75 Conclusions 77 References 79 Internet Sites 80 6 The Expansion of the Mafia in the Romagna Riviera 81 Introduction 81 Creating the Right Conditions: From the Pleasure Economies to the Mafia in Exile 86 The Vulcano Inquest, the Network Model of Criminal Infiltration 89 Colonisation Failed: The Mirror Inquest 94 Conclusions 97 References 100 7 A Marriage of Necessity: Critical Criminology and the Study of Mafia Phenomena 102 Introduction 102 Trust, Status and Contagion. The Unstable Foundations of Common Place Theories on the Mafia 106 The Anti-Mafia (Movement), the State and Upholding Equality in the Eyes of the Law 111 From Sciascia to Saviano: Professionals or Moral Entrepreneurs? 118 Conclusions 123 References 124 Index 127 This Book Develops The Idea That The Cosa Nostra Sicilian Mafia Likes And, More Than Any Other Criminal Organization, Follows The Patterns Of Capitalist Transformation. The Author Presents Analysis Of The Mafia Under Post-fordism Capitalism, Showing How They Rely On Increasingly More Flexible Networks For Reasons Of Both Cost And Dodging Police Control, As Well As Changing Their Core Businesses In Relation To The Risk That Some Activities, Such As Drug Trafficking, Are Likely To Incur. Combining Sociology, Criminology And Labour Sociology, The Book Provides An Interpretation Of Cosa Nostra Which Focuses On The Connection Between Legal And Illegal Economies And Politics, Thus Doing Away With The Idea That Organized Crime Is Always An External Entity To Society. Chapter 1. The Research Of The Giuseppe Impastato Research Centre On The Mafia Phenomenon -- Chapter 2. The Mafia In The Post-fordist Era -- Chapter 3. Organised Crime Or White Collar Crime? -- Chapter 4. The Sicilian Mafia Under Postfordism -- Chapter 5. The Expansion Of The Mafia In The Romagna Riviera -- Chapter 6. A Marriage Of Necessity. Essays, Previously Published In Italian. Includes Bibliographical References. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-6 The Research of the Giuseppe Impastato Research Centre on the Mafia Phenomenon: More Than Thirty Years of Meticulous Study....Pages 7-24 The Mafia in the Post-Fordist Era....Pages 25-40 Organised Crime or White-Collar Crime? The Case of the Sicilian Mafia....Pages 41-50 The Sicilian Mafia Under Post-Fordism....Pages 51-71 The Expansion of the Mafia in the Romagna Riviera....Pages 73-93 A Marriage of Necessity: Critical Criminology and the Study of Mafia Phenomena....Pages 95-119 Back Matter....Pages 121-124