'Ndrangheta: The Glocal Dimensions of the Most Powerful Italian Mafia

by Anna Sergi, Anita Lavorgna

This book presents an historical and sociological account of the Italian mafia-type organisation known as the ‘ndrangheta. It draws together diverse perspectives on the various ‘ndrangheta clans and their behavioural models, focusing specifically on their organisational skills, their bonds with Calabrian society and Calabrian communities around the world, their mobility, and their characterisation as poly-crime organisations. 
The authors demonstrate that ‘ndrangheta clans have an innovative way of being and doing mafia work through a dense network of relationships both in the ‘upperworld’ and in the ‘underworld’, a particularly acute sense of business, a reputation built on the protection of blood and family ties, and, last but not least, a symbiotic relationship and camouflage within Calabrian society. By focusing on both the structures and the activities of the clans and with findings based on judicial documents, this book explores why the ‘ndrangheta is today labeled as “the most powerful Italian mafia”. It will be of great interest to upper-level students and scholars of organised crime and sociology.

131 pages, Hardcover

Published July 21, 2016

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

icked this one up along the path on trying to get smarter on organized crime, after spending most of my adult life tracking insurgency and terrorism. I found it a very good backgrounder on the ‘Ndrangheta, solidly based on primary sources from investigations by the Italian judiciary and law enforcement, supplemented with other academic research. The book progresses logically from the ‘Ndrangheta’s origins and evolution in Calabria, to its expansion in Italy and internationally. I found the concepts of hybridization and delocalization particularly interesting, as applied to ‘Ndrangheta operational expansion. These terms refer to methods by which the ‘Ndrangheta infiltrate existing illicit businesses and territories, but without attempting to take control from whatever entity is currently in charge. They simply establish investor relationships with the indigenous illicit organization, and grow their involvement in a subtle penetration for profit-taking, while allowing the original entity to retain control. Sort of like how an investment bank may have a less than 50 percent share in a major infrastructure project; not controlling, but enough to get it a highly influential seat on the board of directors. The closing chapter briefly discussed how the ‘Ndrangheta uses these methods to exploit sectors such as Holland’s flower industry and European renewable energy. Overall, I found it an excellent read, and a very good starting point for more study on the subject.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the mafia from Calabria. Anyone with roots from that region of Italy will want to read this book. The Sicilian Cosa Nostra has received the bulk of the attention regarding the mafia, and Italian law recognized the Calabrian group (‘Ndrangheta) as a mafia group of concern in 2010, despite its much deeper historical origins.
Relying on interviews with police officials, experts inside and outside Italy, and judicial records,
the authors offer a contemporary perspective on the ‘Ndrangheta, including its structure, method of operation, and “glocal” reach (meaning the ‘Ndrangheta behavior operates both locally and globally). Most interesting is the fact that the ‘Ndrangheta has a greater presence outside Calabria than do other mafias, and that its structure is flexible and fragmented, rather than the more structured portrayals of mafia groups found in other accounts.