In this paper, we investigate the process by which social control agents define wrongdoing over time and the principles they employ in drawing the boundary between right and wrong. We empirically examine how Italian state actors sought over four decades to categorize behaviors in the so-called “gray area,” i.e. the conduct of individuals supportive of the mafia organization Cosa Nostra and its criminal aims, but not members of the organization. Based on an archival analysis of texts produced since the 1960s we reconstruct how state actors started from a preliminary definition of wrongdoing, moved to stigmatize the behaviors in question on moral grounds, and ultimately criminalized them with legal sanctions. We conceptualize the main principles behind this evolving categorization as intentionality of conduct, freedom of choice, and scope of harm. The paper contributes to the debate on the factors and conditions shaping the definition of wrongdoing over time and the contribution that social control agents provide to this aim.
Social control agents and the evolving definition of wrongdoing: the case of the gray area around the mafia
Cappellaro, Giulia
;Compagni, Amelia;
2023
Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the process by which social control agents define wrongdoing over time and the principles they employ in drawing the boundary between right and wrong. We empirically examine how Italian state actors sought over four decades to categorize behaviors in the so-called “gray area,” i.e. the conduct of individuals supportive of the mafia organization Cosa Nostra and its criminal aims, but not members of the organization. Based on an archival analysis of texts produced since the 1960s we reconstruct how state actors started from a preliminary definition of wrongdoing, moved to stigmatize the behaviors in question on moral grounds, and ultimately criminalized them with legal sanctions. We conceptualize the main principles behind this evolving categorization as intentionality of conduct, freedom of choice, and scope of harm. The paper contributes to the debate on the factors and conditions shaping the definition of wrongdoing over time and the contribution that social control agents provide to this aim.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Cappellaro et al_RSO_final.docx
non disponibili
Descrizione: Articolo accettato pre-print
Tipologia:
Documento in Pre-print (Pre-print document)
Licenza:
NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione
76.62 kB
Formato
Microsoft Word XML
|
76.62 kB | Microsoft Word XML | Visualizza/Apri |
20220601_RSO Acceptance email.pdf
non disponibili
Descrizione: Email di accettazione da parte degli Editor RSO Volume
Tipologia:
Allegato per valutazione Bocconi (Attachment for Bocconi evaluation)
Licenza:
NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione
60.32 kB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
60.32 kB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.