83120 - Mafia and Processes of Victimization

Learning outcomes

The training goal is to provide interpretative and analysis tools to understand the differences between Cosa nostra, ‘Ndrangheta, and Camorra.

Course contents

The teaching involves a historiographical reconstruction focusing mainly, but not exclusively, on the three major Italian mafia organizations (Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta, Camorra) with the aim of understanding their birth, following their evolution and outlining their main characteristics, identifying the areas of greatest interest. This reconstruction will be accompanied by a reflection on the processes of victimization and the demands and rights of persons offended by crime. To this end, a number of stories of innocent victims of the Mafia will be analyzed and reflection will thus be focused on the themes of memory, testimony, and legality.

Readings/Bibliography

Sciarrone R. (2009), Mafie vecchie, mafie nuove radicamento ed espansione(Nuova ed. riveduta e ampliata), Donzelli, Roma.  

Sicurella S. (2017) Da quel giorno mia madre ha smesso di cantare. Storie di mafia, Giappichelli, Torino.

Sicurella. (2023). Le mafie italiane nel cyberspazio: nuova frontiera o terreno di sperimentazione? Rivista di criminologia, vittimologia e sicurezza, XVI(XVI, 1-3, 2022), 22–34.

For regular attendees the bibliography for the exam preparation will be recommended by the teacher during lessons.

ERASMUS students: you should agree your study plan with the professor

 

All students (regular attendees, not regular attendess, international) can benefit from all documents published on the platform virtuale.unibo.it

Teaching methods

Course methodology: lectures, seminars and participatory activities.

Assessment methods

The exam aims to verify the achievement of the educational objectives highlighted in the part called "learning outcomes".

Attending students:

• written exam at the end of the course;

• paper;

• classroom presentations (optional);

Attending students not satisfied with the grade obtained, during exam sessions, will be able to take a written test that will be based on the entire program carried out during the course and submit a new version of paper.

Non-attending students:

there will be one written exam composed by four open questions regarding issues addressed in the books (see section Readings/Bibliography). For each answer there are 7.5 points assigned max. Exam duration: 90mins.

Students participating in international mobility programs (for example: Erasmus and Overseas) should contact the professor at the beginning of class. The exam can be taken in oral or written form. In the former case, the test is taken in Italian, while in the latter you can choose between Italian or English.

It is possible to view the written paper and ask for clarification during office hours.

In all cases, the evaluation criterion of the written test will be the same and aimed at verifying the acquisition of knowledge and the achievement of objectives.

The ability to fully expound and argue and the critical analysis of the phenomena studied as well as the mastery of language relevant to the subject will be evaluated with very good or excellent grades (27/30 to 30 cum laude). A merely mnemonic analysis, limited argumentative ability and the use of language that is not always appropriate will result in fair grades (22/30 to 26/30) while weak analytical and argumentative abilities accompanied by a deficient preparation will be evaluated with a grade of 18/30 to 21/30.
Insufficient preparation in relation to course content and poor analytical skills will result in a failing grade (rejected). The grade obtained can be rejected a maximum of two times.

Teaching tools

PC and videoprojector, web resources. 

Students who would like to use voice recorders for class lectures are kindly invited to ask for the explicit permission of the professor in order to do so.

During lectures, the professor will use Power Point presentations and other material that will be published on the website: https://virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Sandra Sicurella