Mafia, Masons and Power: Corruption, Alliances and Shifty Obedience in Italy

In the Italian context the relationship between mafia groups and (deviant) masonic lodges is often flagged as a relevant component to understand both the resilience of mafias and the configuration of power structures and corruption mechanisms in the country. The interactions of mafia groups, politicians or public administrators, and deviant masons can be studied from a perspective that considers “power” as a negotiated and contextual resource, based on reciprocal obedience. In this paper we propose a theoretical framework for our upcoming book and discuss some of the preliminary findings of our research for the book. In particular, this paper will discuss potential interactions between mafia actors, politicians/public administrators, and deviant masonic lodges (DML) and configurations of their relationships depending on specific circumstances. We will present two of our case studies (one from Sicily and one from Calabria) to specifically reflect on the different roles that DML can assume in specific contexts where both mafias’ and political or economic interests are at play. We find that the presence of DML makes ‘power’ (including criminal power) negotiable and governance structures ‘shifty’. In these shifty environments, actors find ways to manage and modulate their expectations and their offerings, by finding and maintaining forms of trust; by exploiting cultural and behavioural convergences; and by constantly re-negotiating and re-modulating secrecy, visibility, and hierarchical orders.