Artikelen

Enige problemen bij het onderzoek naar de Siciliaanse Mafia

Auteurs

  • Blok,A.

Trefwoorden:

Anthropology, Mafia, Research, Researching the mafia

Samenvatting

The mafia is defined as an informal structure which has power over social, political, and economic aspects of life through patronage, brokerage, and violence. The study of the mafia as a sentiment emphasizes its opposition to any contact with the legal authorities. Being mafioso can mean taking revenge, refusing information on crimes to the police, protecting the criminals, and having to accept protection as a form of blackmail. Fieldwork on the mafia can best be done under cover of another subject. The assistance of informants is very helpful. Their information has to be double checked against newspapers, archives, and available statistics. Even lies and fantasies can be of use though, as imaginable possibilities within a certain society. The anthropologist can never study the mafia from within because it is not a group. He can only study the mafia from within a society where it exists. K. Dillman.

Biografie auteur

Blok,A.

Gepubliceerd

1967-11-01

Nummer

Sectie

Artikelen