Society, Culture and Mafia. An analysis of why Sicily falls behind when it comes to development Photo: http://sicily.rome-in-italy.com/ Master thesis in International Business Communication – Italian Cand.ling.merc. Copenhagen Business School, July 2008 Advisor: Susanne Gram Larsen By Ditte Roslyng Tastesen © Ditte Roslyng Tastesen 2008 Acknowledgements When first starting this project in Sicily, I experienced many obstacles, and doubted that I would succeed in completing this project. However, later in the process I was met with the kindness, which Sicilians are known for. Therefore, I would like to thank all of my interview people – they will be named later in the thesis – for taking their time and sharing so honestly their experiences and knowledge with me. Without them, this thesis would not have been possible. Particularly, I would like to thank Salvatore Costantino from University of Palermo for his guidance during my stay in Palermo. I would like to extend my thank you to other people that have crossed my way in Sicily, their openness and willingness to share have been of great use for a complete picture of the situation in Sicily. I would also like to thank Thomas Harder for his guidance in the beginning of the research process, and especially in connection with the mafia. Finally, I would like to thank Susanne Gram Larsen for guiding and encouraging me throughout the process. Her professionalism, knowledge and personal support have been invaluable and have helped me produce a project that I am proud of. Society, Culture, and Mafia Copyright © Ditte Roslyng Tastesen i Terminology British English/American English This thesis is written in British English, which in some cases have presented a problem, because I use a lot of American theorists. Therefore, when describing a theory it will be in British English, however citations are kept in American English, when originally in American English. Mafia When I refer to the term “mafia”, I refer to the Sicilian mafia Cosa Nostra. Otherwise it will be specified. This will be further explained in chapter 6.1, were “mafia” is defined. Society, Culture, and Mafia Copyright © Ditte Roslyng Tastesen ii Table of Contents PART I: RESEARCH FRAMEWORK ......................................................... 1 1. Introduction ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Problem discussion ............................................................................................. 2 1.3 Research purpose and expectations ...................................................................... 3 1.4 Delimitations ..................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Evidence ........................................................................................................... 4 1.5.1 The general notion ........................................................................................ 5 1.5.2 The citizens‟ own view ................................................................................... 5 1.5.3 Hard facts .................................................................................................... 6 2. Background and History of Sicily ............................................................. 9 3. Methodology .......................................................................................... 12 3.1 Theory ............................................................................................................ 12 3.1.1 Structure of society ..................................................................................... 12 3.1.2 Civic Culture............................................................................................... 13 3.1.3 Mafia ......................................................................................................... 13 3.2 Research approach ........................................................................................... 13 3.3 Data collection ................................................................................................. 14 3.3.1 Data collection methods............................................................................... 14 3.3.2 Interviews .................................................................................................. 15 3.3.2.1 Choices made in preparing for the interviews. ........................................... 15 3.3.2.2 Selection of the interviewees .................................................................. 15 3.3.2.3 Design and structure of the interview guide .............................................. 16 PART II: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................ 19 4. Structure of Society ............................................................................... 19 4.1 Ronald Inglehart‟s Modernisation Theory ............................................................. 19 4.1.1 Economy, Politics and Culture ....................................................................... 19 4.1.2 Human behaviour and Changing Culture ........................................................ 21 5. Civic Culture .......................................................................................... 23 5.1 Civic Society .................................................................................................... 23 Society, Culture, and Mafia Copyright © Ditte Roslyng Tastesen iii 5.1.1 Robert Putnam: Civicness and Civic Community ............................................. 23 5.2 Social Capital ................................................................................................... 25 5.2.1 Robert Putnam: Social Capital and Trust ........................................................ 25 5.2.2 Francis Fukuyama: Social Capital and Civil Society .......................................... 27 6. Mafia ...................................................................................................... 31 6.1 Definition ........................................................................................................ 31 6.2 Mafia and the Community .................................................................................. 32 6.3 Mafia and Culture ............................................................................................. 33 6.4 Mafia and Business ........................................................................................... 33 6.5 Mafia, State and Politics .................................................................................... 35 PART III: ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................. 37 7. How can Sicily be characterised as a Society? ....................................... 37 7.1 Mutual support ................................................................................................. 37 7.1.1 Approval of the system ................................................................................ 37 7.1.2 The elite shapes the culture ......................................................................... 38 7.2 Power and democracy ....................................................................................... 39 7.2.1 Physical power............................................................................................ 40 7.2.2 Free and fair elections? ................................................................................ 40 7.3 Corruption ....................................................................................................... 42 7.3.1 Perceived corruption.................................................................................... 42 7.3.2 The correlation between inequality, poverty and corruption .............................. 43 7.4 Human Behaviour ............................................................................................. 44 7.4.1 Norms and behaviour .................................................................................. 44 7.4.2 Interpersonal trust and family ...................................................................... 46 7.5 Chapter Conclusion ........................................................................................... 49 8. How can Sicilian Civic Culture be described? ......................................... 51 8.1 Civic Society .................................................................................................... 51 8.1.1 Cooperation between citizens ....................................................................... 51 8.1.2 Participation in public affairs and associations ................................................. 52 8.1.3 Equal relations or patron/client relationships .................................................. 53 8.2 Social Capital ................................................................................................... 54 8.2.1 Public institutions ........................................................................................ 54 8.2.2 Negative side of social capital ....................................................................... 56 8.2.3 Creating social capital.................................................................................. 57 Society, Culture, and Mafia Copyright © Ditte Roslyng Tastesen iv 8.3 Chapter Conclusion ..........................................................................................