New date for Rome conference

CALL FOR PAPERS

Transnational Organized Crime: Italian Connections

Bilingual Conference (English and Italian)

The American University of Rome
Department of International Relations

23-24 November, 2012


Keynote Speakers:

Professor Nando Dalla Chiesa, University of Milan

Professor Diego Gambetta, European University Institute


The American University of Rome's Department of International Relations will be hosting a two-day international conference focusing on Italy’s current roles within transnational organized crime networks and the on-going attempts to weaken these through legislation, enforcement and grassroots activism.

The conference aims to provide a forum for academics, policymakers and operators in the field to discuss issues of common concern. There is a constant need both to examine the evolving social contexts within which organized crime operates and to evaluate the political, economic and social costs of the globalization of this phenomenon in a country which has a long history of powerful mafias with their own international ramifications. There is a large amount of research on Italy’s crime groups and growing scholarship on the transnational dimensions of the phenomenon. At the same time, political and law enforcement agencies which have to deal with the issues directly produce operational and policymaking material. The opportunities for the different fields to learn about the others and discuss issues and solutions are relatively rare; this initiative seeks to fill this gap and encourage a dialogue.

We particularly invite contributions that relate to one or more of the following themes and which focus on the international dimensions. Papers should present original research and analysis.

• Debates on defining organized crime in Italy
• Methodologies for studying TOC and its effects
• Globalization and ‘liquidity’ of Italian mafia operations
• Transplantation of foreign groups in Italy
• Political connections, clientelism and corruption
• Ties to terrorism
• Money laundering and the legal economy
• ‘Gray’ economies
• Human smuggling and trafficking through and to Italy
• Art crime, fashion and culture industries
• Waste removal and disposal
• Environmental crimes and impacts
• Drugs routes and markets
• Fakes and contraband
• Arms trafficking
• Legal frameworks, national and international
• Current policy approaches
• Italy’s judicial system
• Enforcement agencies, policing and surveillance
• Civil society responses
• The ‘anti-mafia’ economy

The conference will be held in English and Italian.
We hope to publish selected papers and are currently seeking a publisher.

Proposals (c. 300 words and a short biographical note) are invited from both established and unpublished scholars and practitioners and should be sent to Isabella Clough Marinaro and James Walston at:

TOC@aur.edu

Deadline for proposals: 23 April, 2012. We will try to reply by 23 May, 2012.

Registration Fee: 40 Euro
Students: 10 Euro
AUR students Free

(Procedures for paying registration fees will be announced when we circulate the draft program.)