Resource Analysis 1

The Decline of the Italian Mafia by Letizia Paoli

In her chapter “The Decline of the Italian Mafia,” Letizia Paoli focuses on the measures taken by law enforcement to weaken the Italian mafia families and on the reactions of the mafiosi to these antimafia actions. She argues that direct antimafia policies, such as those that allow raids on chief meetings and the seizure of illegal assets, are more effective than indirect policies that skirt around the problem and slowly chip away at mafia members. Her conclusion makes sense as attacking the issue directly will yield better results in a more efficient manner than trying to corner the mafia. Paoli uses data gathered from police reports and translations of pizzini, which are notes handwritten by those in the high ranks of the mafia to other high ranking members, both of which are reliable sources. However, just because there has been much change within the ranks of the Cosa Nostra, it does not mean that they are in a rut they cannot get out of, especially since much of the change involves returning to their traditional roots. Paoli, in her conclusion, remarks that there is the possibility of the Cosa Nostra “bouncing back” as they did in the 1920s and again in the 1960s. Yet Paoli does not blame the mafia itself for these reemergences, instead blaming chronic underdevelopment, inefficient public government, an army of unemployed youngsters looking for work, and easily bought civil servants and state representatives. According to Paoli, because of the Cosa Nostra’s position in an economically struggling Southern Italy, a victory against them cannot yet be claimed by the government though it seems the once most powerful mafia family is in shambles. The mafia can quickly reorganize itself so I do not buy into the blame game that Paoli has set up. Additionally, Paoli talks little of actual policies that caused the decline in the mafia, she focused only on the results of supposed policies.

Though informative, Paoli’s text could be improved upon if she were to directly site and analyze specific policies implemented that are directly and indirectly antimafia. She talked about specific actions against the mafia and the reactions of the families to said actions, but her thesis talked about policies which were not expanded upon. Additionally, some counter arguments would be helpful in analyzing the information given by Paoli. Even with these deficiencies though, this chapter was helpful in giving an overview of the problems that the Cosa Nostra is faced with currently.