Difference between revisions of "Omertà (Italy)"

In English, the word omertà is often written without the stress on the final ‘a’ – omerta. It is usually translated as ‘code of silence’ or ‘conspiracy of silence’ and is used almost exclusively in relation to the behaviour of mafia members and external supporters (Albanese 1996<ref>Albanese, J. 1996. Organized Crime in America. 3rd edition. Cincinnati: Anderson.</ref>). When used in the English-speaking world, the term often has a very specific connotation, deriving from the fight by the US authorities against Italian-American Cosa Nostra families. From the Italian viewpoint, the way the term is used abroad gives rise to considerable confusion. It seems that omertà in these circumstances is used to define a specific affiliation to mafia organisations that results in mafia members and their families or supporters refusing to cooperate with the authorities and behaving, instead, as a secret society.

In English, the word omertà is often written without the stress on the final ‘a’ – omerta. It is usually translated as ‘code of silence’ or ‘conspiracy of silence’ and is used almost exclusively in relation to the behaviour of mafia members and external supporters (Albanese 1996<ref>Albanese, J. 1996. Organized Crime in America. 3rd edition. Cincinnati: Anderson.</ref>). When used in the English-speaking world, the term often has a very specific connotation, deriving from the fight by the US authorities against Italian-American Cosa Nostra families. From the Italian viewpoint, the way the term is used abroad gives rise to considerable confusion. It seems that omertà in these circumstances is used to define a specific affiliation to mafia organisations that results in mafia members and their families or supporters refusing to cooperate with the authorities and behaving, instead, as a secret society.

It may appear, when the term omertà is translated, that the behaviour it encapsulates is specifically Italian. This is not however the case. On the contrary: it may be argued that refusing, out of sense of privacy and of honour, to cooperate with the authorities is a much more widespread phenomenon. It is found in every secret and/or criminal organisation in the world, from youth gangs to drug-trafficking networks. It is however true, as Schneider and Schneider (2005<ref>Schneider J. and Schneider P. 2005. 'Mafia, Antimafia, and the Plural Cultures of Sicily,' Current Anthropology 46(4): 501-20.</ref>) have argued, that the essential features of omertà – the element of choice of this behaviour rather than its coercion, paired with its collective dimension – are peculiar to certain enclave cultures, not just in Italy but everywhere in the world where small, geographically isolated communities are found.

It may appear, when the term omertà is translated, that the behaviour it encapsulates is specifically Italian. This is not however the case. On the contrary: it may be argued that refusing, out of sense of privacy and of honour, to cooperate with the authorities is a much more widespread phenomenon. It is found in every secret and/or criminal organisation in the world, from youth gangs to drug-trafficking networks. It is however true, as Schneider and Schneider (2005<ref>Schneider J. and Schneider P. 2005. 'Mafia, Antimafia, and the Plural Cultures of Sicily,' Current Anthropology 46(4): 501-20.</ref>) have argued, that the essential features of omertà – the element of choice of this behaviour rather than its coercion, paired with its collective dimension – are peculiar to certain enclave cultures, not just in Italy but everywhere in the world where small, geographically isolated communities are found.