The study reveals the influence of organized crime groups in southern Italy. Over a long period of existence, they have achieved significant influence in the country, extending it to the entire population of the South, thereby undermining the confidence of citizens in power. At the same time, organized crime wins people’s favor through various financial and humanitarian assistance. This may be due to the fact that citizens in poor financial conditions cannot rely on the state. If Italians are forced to rely on organized crime rather than the government, the influence of the mafia will only increase and ultimately lead to detrimental consequences for the country. The government is trying to undermine the position of organized groups, but today these attempts have still not been successful. The research question in this context is to identify the degree of influence of the mafia on citizens and find out how the government can replace these functions.
The Italian government is doing everything possible to support the most vulnerable segments of the population. In the vicinity of Naples, throughout Sicily and Calabria, members of local mafia structures distribute food in poor areas and give people interest-free loans. In a country as large as Italy, the subversive activities of criminal gangs can pose a serious threat to the security and sovereignty of the government and lives of people. The problem is that organized crime groups act solely in their interests by intimidating people into silence. Blackmail and imaginary protection remain the main instruments of influence on the population that operates effectively. It is important to get the government to do everything legally that organized crime does in its way. This is the guarantor of building a state of law and the well-being of people in their country. Accordingly, it is important to explore all possible ways to fight organized crime in Southern Italy and the ways in which the government can help the citizens instead of the mafia.
Memo
The opposition between organized crime and the state has been studied for quite a long time since this issue has been a problem in Italy for a long part of its history. Many researchers have considered various issues related to penetration into power, false support for citizens, and sources of funding for the mafia. Analysis and study of the following sources can help draw conclusions about what actions should be taken to eradicate the problem.
Various scientists have developed this issue extensively, among which are Savona, Calderoni, Campedelli, Comunale, Ferrarini, & Meneghini. In their study (2020), the authors examine questions about how criminal gangs managed to increase their influence through helping citizens. In addition, aspects of the history of the emergence of the mafia and the factors that led it to the current state of affairs are touched upon. The paper is based on the Proton Mafia Member dataset, which the Italian Ministry of Justice compiled to counter crime. Savona et al. (2020) examine the financing, activities, and influence of the mafia throughout the region. Occupation in various fields of activity allowed criminal groups to extend their influence to all branches of government in the regions. Savona et al. (2020) consider in detail the structure of groupings and the roles of their main members in it. The activities of the mafia are considered at three levels macro, meso, and micro, which allows us to reveal in detail all aspects of the work of criminal groups.
An important topic in the study of criminal groups in any country is their relationship with local authorities. The second study conducted by Mete (2019) focused on the relationship between the Italian government and criminal groups. Many examples of the government’s struggle with the mafia were considered. Among such examples, one can single out the dissolution of the councils, which were infiltrated by mafia members to rule the regions. Much attention is paid to the extent to which such measures as the dissolution of councils and authorities on which the mafia has influence necessary. It is noted that if there is precise control of any local regional state organization by organized criminal groups, then it can no longer perform its functions. This is of great importance for the perception of the issue of the fight against the mafia since such state councils should be one of the components that help in the fight against organized crime. In this regard, such state elements should be completely free from the influence of outside organizations. Mete (2019) focuses his paper on analyzing mafia infiltration into Italian government structures. Knowing the factors that allowed criminal organizations to achieve such success may in the future allow the police to more effectively counter them.
Looking at specific examples of mafia influence on regional councils, one can understand what threatens the independence of the government. The third study by Eboli, Toto & Ziruolo (2021) focuses on a topic similar to the previous one but focuses on a sample of municipalities being dissolved and their balance sheets. The paper uses discrete analysis and statistical regression methods to find out how much the mafia can infiltrate local councils. In addition, the paper reveals questions about how to identify and identify municipalities that are under the influence of criminal groups. This study is useful because it shows how the mafia can influence power within a certain region by forming a quasi-government. The study analyzes local governments’ activities under the mafia’s leadership and compares the effectiveness and policies they promote. The study’s results compared and analyzed several factors different from the state government, such as a high rate of tax arrears, a low level of debt, and a low level of capital expenditures.
The extent to which criminal gangs infiltrate the government is important to study and requires special attention. In his work, the author of the fourth source Frickel (2021) considers the factors that influence the penetration of the mafia into the state apparatus and the degree of its influence on politics. Criminal groups’ role in preserving social power and class stratification in Sicily is considered. In his study, the author relies on critically grounded theory, with the help of which it was possible to find out that criminal groups play a significant role in government and influence the government at all levels. The paper examines why the state allows such free behavior of organized criminal groups in the country. In some cases, this may indicate the failure of the government to take control of the region completely. In addition, the mafia’s activities directly or indirectly affect citizens’ social life and interactions with state apparatuses. However, the author found that criminal gangs within the country have some positive impact, as they soften conflicts and confrontations between various government organizations. Frickel (2021) concludes that the mafia in Mezzogiorno can be perceived as an expression of state power and equating to it. This poses a significant threat to the national security of the region.
Considering the many problematic situations that arise in the context of the influence of criminal groups on governments, it is important to know how to deal with them. The fifth source, authored by Slutzky & Zeume (2018), looks at how justice fights the mafia using the example of municipal governments. This paper was created to study the impact organized groups have on businesses in the country. The correlation is that after the adoption of active measures to combat the mafia in the region, market competition, and innovative developments have increased. At the same time, in this way, it is possible to identify firms that organized criminal groups control. This becomes understandable since such companies do not go into open work after the events. They lose customers and suffer losses because they can no longer conduct illegal operations. Thus, additional mafia centers can be identified by studying similar organizations in the regions where the preventive procedure was carried out. The authors argue that the use of any means by the government can be justified since these preventive measures aim to purge local councils from the influence of bought officials. In addition, illegal financial transactions for money laundering can also be stopped, and, as a result, the region has a healthier economy.
The strategic research plan determines what results need to be achieved based on the purpose of the research and the current state of the problem under study. For this study, an explanatory plan will be applied that answers questions about why a phenomenon occurs, and the available information is sufficient to formulate explanatory hypotheses. The purpose of the plan is to identify functional and causal relationships. The suggested recommendation is that organized crime groups’ intervention directly affects public authorities’ functioning. As the results of the studied works showed, preventive actions against the mafia are effective; accordingly, their further implementation can be recommended.
Anti-crime measures in Italy cost the country quite dearly, not only in finance but in human lives, since criminal groups used harsh measures that opposed the state’s struggle. Thus, this is another proof that preventive cleanings in local municipalities in the South of Italy were effective. With the continuation of such a course, it is possible to achieve results in the complete disposal of organized criminal groups. This, in turn, will increase citizens’ confidence in state structures and relieve them of the need to turn to the mafia for help. Another important step towards achieving order is to expand the range of services and powers of local governments so that citizens have constant support. Thus, the South of Italy will be spared the influence of the criminal elements of society.
Conclusion
Despite significant efforts by the authorities to combat organized crime in Southern Italy, the crime rate is still quite high. The recommendation to the president, as it follows from the factors listed above, is mainly that law enforcement agencies should step up the municipal cleanup program. A potential impact on other areas, such as the geographic area, could be the improvement of the relations between the regions due to the general subordination of one state authority. The impact on the topical sphere can also be positive, as people will begin to turn to state institutions for help instead of criminal groups. In addition, continuing the program is effective, as shown by many of the studies reviewed in this paper. This means that the continuation of productive work should bring results. The potential impact of such a recommendation would be reducing the influence of organized criminal groups throughout Italy, especially in the South. In addition, the current policy of dealing with the influence of criminal gangs will affect small businesses.
References
Eboli, M., Toto, A., & Ziruolo, A. (2021). Mafia infiltrations in Italian municipalities: two statistical indicators. Applied Economics, 53(24), 2693-2712. Web.
Frickel, M. (2021). Is the Mafia a State Apparatus? Web.
Mete, V. (2019). Italy: politics, local government and mafias. In Handbook of Organised Crime and Politics (pp. 72-85). Edward Elgar Publishing. Web.
Savona, E. U., Calderoni, F., Campedelli, G. M., Comunale, T., Ferrarini, M., & Meneghini, C. (2020). The criminal careers of Italian mafia members. In Understanding Recruitment to Organized Crime and Terrorism (pp. 241-267). Springer, Cham. Web.
Slutzky, P., & Zeume, S. (2018). Organized crime and firms: Evidence from Italy. Available at SSRN. Web.