How to recognise a 'ndrangheta member abroad?
Let's start with the obvious. 'Ndranghetisti are normal people. They are not pure evil, nor are they mad; they don't wear a badge, nor are they glowing in the dark. No, they can't be spotted in the crowd either. And yet, I have been asked this question a million times: how do you recognise them, in Calabria, in the rest of Italy, and mostly abroad.
The question could be dismissed easily but that is not my style. I consider all questions and will try to give an answer or to at least modify the question into something that I can give an answer to.
In this case it's not just how to recognise a 'ndrangheta member abroad, but actually it's about how to read the signs of this mafia's presence abroad and also how NOT to misread the signs. So here it goes.
What alone does NOT make a 'ndranghetista abroad
- Being from Calabria or of Calabrian origin
On its own being Calabrian is not a good indicator for recognising a 'ndranghetista. Contrarily to common perception, not all people born in Calabria or descending from Calabrians who choose or find themselves committing (serious, organised criminal activities are 'ndranghetisti. This is the first false friend, and it's called ethnicity trap.
- Carrying a so-called 'ndrangheta surname or being in a family with suspected/alleged/confirmed 'ndranghetisti
As in the previous case, this can be called the surname trap. Surnames, especially in certain areas of Calabria (e.g. Aspromonte) are extremely diffused and encompass very large families. Look at me...! These families more often than not have nothing to do with one another, beyond formalities (festivities, etiquettes) in terms of business and/or shared interests.
A surname alone - like being from Calabria - is never a good sign to start with and sends people down rabbit holes finding connections that could be "revealing", out of two logical fallacies:
non sequitur, that is assuming that two pieces of information are connected just because they are the only ones in your possession (that is, learning a surname and assuming mafia connection)
bandwagon fallacy, assuming that just because a premise is very popular (the 'ndrangheta is a family-based organisation, thus surnames matter) then it must be also true in all cases (certain surnames are sign of the 'ndrangheta).
- Doing "business" with Calabrians or in/through/via Calabria
This is another fallacy, ad ignorantiam, due to ignorance. Whoever looks at the 'ndrangheta often knows Calabria solely because of the 'ndrangheta. Calabria and Calabrians can commit criminal offences, including organised crime, with each other or with others, without tickling the interests or the appetites of the 'ndrangheta clans. Indeed, although often public discourse fails in this matter, the 'ndrangheta does not control all criminal activities in Calabria (think for example of the market of irregular migration, where the 'ndrangheta does not have a role and which is rather prominent on Calabrian shores).
Ok, I know, now you rightfully demand that I dwell on the actual indicators of what DOES make a 'ndranghetista abroad. Here it goes then.
How to recognise a 'ndrangheta member or activity abroad.
A combination of the following items in these two groups of indicators have to coexist. These indicators have to travel TOGETHER to be taken seriously and can at best formulate a doubt, never a certainty of mafia belonging. (Why? Because the 'ndrangheta is a secret organisation, duh).
Mind you, this list is not the Bible. It is a starting point, can be debated, amended, enriched.
1) Behaving in accordance to the mafia method, which includes any of the following (the more the better)
- For lower level members:
- Threatening or intimidating behaviour in the name of their own reputation or their family's
- Involvement in organised crime activities (e.g. drug trade; money laundering through small sized commercial ventures) or in so called spy-crimes (e.g. extortion, cash-intensive businesses, loan-sharking; blackmail; fraud etc).
- Seeking out protection and offering protection services to others (mainly with people from same group, e.g. for security)
- Display of feelings of entitlement for belonging to specific groups or for "having made it"
- Attachment to money and profit at all costs.
- Distrust in institutions, police, state authorities
- Attempt to remain personally attached to their circle of origin (by marriage or by friendship or by "work partnerships") but open - especially once in group - to work with others.
- For higher level members:
- Calm and accommodating behaviour, usually aimed at being recognised as an upstanding member of the community.
- Fuelling ambiguity about his actual role in the community (sly mafia member or just good businessman?)
- Dated or non existent involvement in overt criminal activity linked to organised crime activities (e,g, murder, violence, extortion, drug trade, corruption, money laundering etc).
- Offering protection or being believed to be able to offer protection to others, also outside of their community of reference.
- Ability or attempt to establish so-called weak links (links to people not in the same circle, e.g. politicians, law enforcement etc.) to augment social capital.
- Display of commitment to institutions and authorities, the more they have good connection to them.
- Leveraging influence for under-the-table deals.
- Display of humbleness or of narrative of "hard work".
- Attachment to the circles of their community of origin but also ability to perfectly integrate in others (in terms of professions, high-level jobs, entrepreneurialism).
- Display of attachment to Calabrian towns of origin for a sense of belonging (nothing wrong with that, must be read in context) at times with frequent travels that confirm "true belonging", but also without travel, via socials.
- Display of attachment to family, especially elder males in the family (as above) as true "pioneers".
- Display an attachment to religion, religious places in Calabria and/or religious artefacts (e.g. statue of St Michael Archangel, Madonna di Polsi statue).
- Using solidarity (ethnic, family) as an excuse to cut corners and demand privileges
- Using Calabrian migration routes to establish business ventures as privileged avenues to create economic path-dependency within the community.
- Using the ambiguity attached to a place of origin (due to its mafia reputation) to leverage obedience and/or instil fear of repercussions or offer protection services.
- Using the ambiguity of a surname (due to its mafia reputation) to form instrumental friendships and/or imagine innovative activities for the "family venture".
- Attachment to a nostalgic, unrealistic, past in Calabria/Italy, or about Calabria/Italy and Calabrian traditions (including patriarchal "values" about the role of women) that becomes a way of living or an expectation of "the right ways" of living also abroad.
I repeat, it's all contextual, it's all case-by-case, it's all subjected to interpretation. No silver lining here.
Ok, I might update this list as I go, if something else comes to mind. In the meanwhile, let me know what you think in comments below (also anonymously, but please politely, or I'll just ignore it).
How they walk (confidence and attitude) but also how they drive. The old guys learn with time to stay low key and behave but the young guys drive aggressive, screech their tires and more importantly they run stops and red lights. Partly becuase Laws don’t apply to them, but mainly they think it keeps police in undercover cars from following them. If you are tailing them you do not want to get made but if they suspect a tail they run the red light. The tail cannot run the signal because that would confirm your are following them. Even in this new age of gps and high flying helicopters, these guys get paranoid and think people are following and photographing them the old school way.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, attitudes are, however, very difficult to generalise. Thanks!
DeleteI knew some very big fish, old timers (Sicilian not Calabrese) that could pass for anyone’s grandfather. They were soft spoken with good humor and smiles, always joking. But you could still see it in their eyes. The twinkle in the eye didn’t match the smile. They were hardened killers. Instinct isn’t admitted into a court of law but it is still the best first alarm.
ReplyDeleteWas this in Melbourne?
DeleteIt is normal to put a camera or two on a house or residence but they tend to overdo the number if security cameras. And if they have a property, they hide the house and garage with high bushes and trees.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and informative. I especially like the part referred to the higher level members because I find it very accurate and I would also add that the leaders tend to diminish or dismiss their role even in courts but also in basic talks with journalists ( " Me the boss?? I am just a.." insert something like a farmer etc). Thank you so much for this wonderful thread.
ReplyDeleteGrazie! Indeed the attitude of cooperation and diminishing of their role is part of that ambiguity so dear to many of them.
DeleteThank you for this informative post Anna. Thank you for pointing out the "ethnicity trap" as well. As you mentioned, surnames can create leverage and opportunity for those involved or willing to be but inaccurately target others based on their heritage. I look forward to reading more of your research.
ReplyDeleteThis is my personal “battle”; to disentangle the surname trap from its actual meaning in this world. Demystifying the ndrangheta starts from this. Thanks!
DeleteAnna,
ReplyDeleteGreat list, and very interesting. I’ll readily admit, in work I’d started nearly a decade ago, a have been guilty of some of the assumptions you describe. My understanding has evolved over nearly 20 years of mobwatching (in part thanks to you, lol).
That point about dismissive statements; in a 1992 statement to police, a certain Blonde guy mentioned that he was “…well respected in the market…”. I always found that very interesting, especially when considering how cautious he would become in later years.
What about generational “membership”? Is it perpetual, in a sense? How likely are the children of identified ‘ndranghetisti to continue the line? Is it more likely for some, or a case by case basis? Especially in a county with now second and third generation children of migrants?
Thanks Steve, it’s a challenging learning process for all of us. As for your question, this is part of the research questions for the project so stay tuned!
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