Mafia and Antimafia: A History

The mafia is the impenetrable and seemingly infallible embodiment of notoriety and criminality. It is often seen as a polymorphic organization which encompasses crime, the accumulation of corruptly acquired wealth and power, the cultural code of omertà and consensus. Umberto Santino, one of Italy's leading mafia experts, here provides a new perspective on the mafia and the movements which strive to fight against its powers. Exploring first-hand the campaigns of civil society organizations like the Centro siciliano di documentazione against the mafia, the author provides a fresh look at the mechanisms – and struggles – of the antimafia movement. With new research into high-profile murder trials, the mafia's financial activities, international drug-trafficking violations and their secretive codes of conduct, Santino overturns speculation and sensationalized preconceptions on both the mafia and the antimafia – as forces of purely 'good' or 'evil' – and provides unparalleled insight into the networks of organized crime in Italy and throughout the world.