The Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, is one of the most intriguing criminal phenomena in the world. It is an unparalleled organised criminal grouping that over almost two centuries has been able not only to successfully permeate licit and illicit economy, politics and civil society, but also to influence and exercise authoritative power over both the underworld and the upper-world. This criminal phenomenon has been a captivating conundrum for scholars of different disciplines who have tried to explain with various paradigms the reasons behind the emergence and consolidation of the mafia. Challenging the Mafia Mystique provides an analysis of the changes the Sicilian mafia has undergone, from legitimisation to denunciation. Rino Coluccello highlights how, from the very emergence of the organised criminal groups in Sicily, a culture existed that was protective and tolerant of the mafia. He argues that the various conceptualisations of the mafia that dominated the public and scientific debate in the nineteenth and more than half of the twentieth century created a mystique, which legitimised the mafia and contributed to their success. This book will be of great interest to scholars and students of organised crime, Italian politics and Italian literature.

Autorentext

Salvatore Coluccello is Senior Lecturer at the School of International Studies and Social Science, Coventry University, UK.

Zusammenfassung

This book provides an analysis of the changes the Sicilian mafia has undergone from legitimisation to denunciation. It argues that conceptualisations of the mafia in public and scientific debate, during the nineteenth and more than half of the twentieth century, created a mystique that legitimised the mafia and contributed to their success.

Inhalt

Introduction

1. The Origins of the Mafia as a Criminal Phenomenon and as a Forma Mentis

2. The Abolition of Feudalism, Mafia in the Unified Kingdom and I Mafiusi della Vicaria

3. Public and Private Enquiries on the Criminal Consortium: But the Mafia Doesn't Exist

4. Mafia and Politics in Sicilian Society at the End of the 19th Century: The Notarbartolo Affair, The Formation of 'Sicilianism' and Consolidation of the Mafia Mystique.

5. The Literature of Defence and the 'Heresy' of Don Sturzo.

6. The Popular Legitimisation of the Mafia: The Beati Paoli and the Mafioso as an Avenger

7. Fascism and the Surrender of the Mafia, the Allied Invasion and the Return of the Villains

8. The Breaking Point: A New Image of the Mafia

9. Leonardo Sciascia: The Writer as the Public Conscience

10. Conclusion