The Structures of the Corrupt Exchange: The Role of Networks in the Italian Case

The paper studies the role of illicit network in corruption, using the Network Analysis. We focus on the scandals of corruption exploded in Italy after 2010, analyzing the relations between the actors of corruption, the network shape and the genesis of its informal rules. The goal is to define how the network sustains corruption, exploiting the opportunities offered by the legislation. The networks are able to capture practices and decisions of the public sphere, influencing its agency. Thanks to relational structures and polyadic exchanges, the illicit networks force the discretional powers of public officials and politicians. We have empirically analyzed the judicial documents produced for the “Big Events” investigations, mapping the relations between actors. This permits us to identify the most powerful nodes of the net and their roles, the types of resources and the direction of the exchanges. This analysis gives important information on the contemporary characteristics of corruption.