Challenging the Mafia Mystique

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 1-5

3. The Origins of the Mafia as a Criminal Phenomenon and as a Spirit

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 6-16

4. The Abolition of Feudalism, Mafia in the Unified Kingdom and I Mafiusi di la Vicaria

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 17-35

5. Public and Private Enquiries on the Criminal Consortium…but the Mafia Doesn’t Exist

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 36-58

6. 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

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 59-69

7. The Literature of Defence and the ‘Heresy’ of Don Sturzo

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 70-88

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

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 89-117

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

   • Rino Coluccello

   Pages 118-144

10. The Breaking Point: Danilo Dolci and a New Image of the Mafia

    • Rino Coluccello

    Pages 145-177

11. Leonardo Sciascia: The Writer as the Public Conscience

    • Rino Coluccello

    Pages 178-215

12. Conclusion

    • Rino Coluccello

    Pages 216-224

13. Back Matter

    Pages 225-260

    PDF

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.

• Mafia
• Cosa Nostra
• Organised crime
• gangs
• Italian literature
• criminology
• crime
• crime and society
• politics and crime
• fascism
• Image
• Nation
• politics

“Rino Coluccello’s Challenging the Mafia Mystique weaves together history, sociological research, and popular literature to provide a deft analysis of the evolution and history of the mafia in Italy. … Challenging the Mafia Mystique will certainly appeal to American mafia and organized crime scholars, since there are many parallels that can and have been made between the Italian and American experience with the mafia.” (David A. Marvelli, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books, clcjbooks.rutgers.edu, January, 2017)

Rino Coluccello's book is an admirably comprehensive, clear and illuminating guide to the development of the Sicilian mafia and the power it acquired, from its emergence in the nineteenth century to the days of Falcone and Buscetta. His rigorous research illustrates the changing nature of Cosa Nostra while his multi-level approach deftly blends historical survey, sociological analysis and insightful reflection on fiction and drama related to the topic.' – Joseph Farrell, Professor Emeritus of Italian, University of Strathclyde, UK

 

'Rino Coluccello takes readers on a fascinating journey into the history and culture of "darkest Italy" to tell us, as no one has before, about the origins of the Mafia and how this sinister criminal organization has been interpreted over time by travelers, novelists, journalists, government investigators, and film makers. Americans no less than Europeans will find this an enthralling story.' - Don H. Doyle, Professor of History, University of South Carolina, USA

 

'As a prosecutor I have always looked at the mafia from a criminal and investigative point of view. Contrasting its violent actions and its almost eternal race for power have always been the main focus of my action as a magistrate and also my principal worry as a Sicilian devoted to change the history of this region. Salvatore "Rino" Coluccello's book gave me and will give all readers different perspectives – historical, social, sociological and "cultural" – that really do enrich the picture of the phenomenon. This book can be considered an outstanding starting point for anyone who is really interested in deepening the knowledge, background and possible developments of one of the most dangerous criminal organisations in the history of the world.' – Dr. Gery Ferrara, Deputy Prosecutor, Antimafia Directorate at the Procura in Palermo, Italy

• Coventry University, UK

  Rino Coluccello

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