Introduction: Mafia and Anti-mafia—A History to Fill

This chapter introduces the anthology by giving a succinct history of the anti-mafia movement in its various phases and expressions. It argues that the massacres of 1992 have resulted in a collective oblivion of the continuity and richness of this particular movement, both in the academic literature and in general public opinion. Furthermore, it shows how, when the mafia phenomenon has been given historical importance (which has not always been the case), the anti-mafia has been overshadowed by the sensationalism surrounding the mafia. The text reflects on the importance of recovering this collective memory from scientific and political perspectives.