Modern Italy Book

This book is a pretty comprehensive account of the development, changing nature and widespread influence of the main groups of organized criminality in Italy (Mafia with origins in Sicily, and Camorra in Naples) after WWII. Much of the history is taken from firsthand accounts and documentation, some of it used in famous Mafia trials.

A bit disjointed and occasionally tedious to read - the complex intertwining and overlapping of organized criminality, foreign powers interests, terrorism, cultural factors, politics and widespread corruption at all level of civil society, so characteristic of the modern history of Italy, is maddeningly complex at best of times: unfortunately the author tends, at times, to provide a too-close perspective of this intricate morass, indulging into the minute details and listing all principal actors in relation to the many plots (and subplots, and sub-sub-plos) that even the best magistrates in Italy failed to untangle.

It must also be said that the author tends to get worryingly close to expressing some form of respect towards this phenomenon - almost justifying it in the light of the history of poverty, oppression and foreign domination that feature in so much of the history of Southern Italy, and Sicily in particular. The criticism of the phenomenon of the Mafia feels almost half-hearted - the author might have spent more space in highlighting the terrible economical and social costs of the presence of the organized criminality in Italy, rather than devoting several pages on food or Guttuso's lovers, or Marta Marzotto.

On the other hand, some parts are extremely interesting, and the author manages to highlight with great effect the intimate relationship and deep links between organized criminality and the upper echelons of Italian politics, including the government itself and the prime minister himself.
The case of Giulio Andreotti is an example well explained by the author, with overwhelming and detailed evidence.
I also like how the author did not refrain from highlighting the heavy responsibilities of the US authorities in WWII, when they supported the re-establishment of the Mafia structure in Sicily, in exchange for support in their occupation of the island - the famous Mafia boss Calogero Vizzini ("the boss of all bosses") was even made Honorary Colonel in the US Army.
The author is also very clear in detailing the many political interests that colluded in the murder of Aldo Moro, one of the darkest moments in modern Italian history: Aldo Moro knew too much about the relationship between the governing party, the mafia, the business world, and he made the big mistake of promoting a compromise with the Communist party - so all affected parties (Italian and foreign) could not wait to see him killed by the Red Brigades.

I also appreciated that the author refrains from expressing personal opinions, impressions or generic statements, relying heavily, instead, on actual proofs and documentary evidence. And the picture that emerges is shocking and dis-heartening even for a reader already intimate with many events of recent Italian history. A grim reading experience indeed.

I am pleasantly surprised by the author's knowledge of Italian culture and history, something quite rare with non-Italian authors. His first-hand accounts of his visits to some inland Sicilian villages, and of the historical quarters of Naples, are beautiful. He also captures some peculiar aspects of the Italian mindset with really insightful perspectives.
But even this author does not really get fully into the heart of the problem: it is not just about a particular politician (such as Andreotti) or a particular political party (Democrazia Cristiana), or a particular region (Sicily): the problem is about a widespread culture of corruption, dishonesty and "omerta'" (a typically Southern Italian concept, virtually untranslatable, whose meaning is: "conspiracy of silence" or "refusal to cooperate with the authorities, even if victims of crime"), which touches ALL levels of the Italian society, including the common people evading taxes, the Church authorities, the industrialists, local and central politicians, public servants, magistrates, police etc. This is still a country where Mafia bosses funerals represent them as heroes, and where you wonder if the "Godfather" movie is still applicable:

And it is a mistake to identify the Mafia organization with just what is visible in prisons or in the streets - the borders between organized criminality and the rest of society have become so blurred that in some cases it is almost impossible to distinguish between a corrupt politician and a "mafioso", and distinguishing between dirty money and legitimate businesses. The inconvenient truth is that the organized criminality would not have had such success, had it not found a fertile soil in the Italian society. Still now there are recurrent scandals and cases of corruption in Italy, and just a few days ago a massive amount of explosive has been found by the police - explosive targeted at killing a magistrate who was investigating the activities of the Camorra.

This makes the amazing sacrifice, that the few honest Italian magistrates and politicians have made by paying with their own lives for their courageous fight, all the more poignant and heroic. Heroes who were in so many cases progressively ostracized and isolated by the very authorities that they were supposed to represent, until the organized criminality could kill them without too much fuss.

Fortunately, there is still an important part of civil society that refuses to give up. The hope is that it will finally prevail and transform Italy into a truly European and independent country.

To conclude: this is a reasonably good book, recommended to all readers interested in the recent history of organized criminality in Italy, even if it must be said that prior knowledge of the political history of post WWII Italy would definitely help in the appreciation of this book. 3 stars.