Sergi, Anna and Vannucci, Alberto (2024) The Reputation of the Invisibles: The Society of Santa as a Para-Masonic Criminal Entity Above the Calabrian ’Ndrangheta. Deviant Behavior. pp. 1-18. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2024.2431854
Sergi, Anna and Vannucci, Alberto (2024) The Reputation of the Invisibles: The Society of Santa as a Para-Masonic Criminal Entity Above the Calabrian ’Ndrangheta. Deviant Behavior. pp. 1-18. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2024.2431854
Sergi, Anna and Vannucci, Alberto (2024) The Reputation of the Invisibles: The Society of Santa as a Para-Masonic Criminal Entity Above the Calabrian ’Ndrangheta. Deviant Behavior. pp. 1-18. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2024.2431854
Abstract
This paper explores how mafia-type and semi-secret organizations construct and preserve their reputation through a calibrated equilibrium between visibility and invisibility. We unpack the case study of the Society of Santa, in Calabria, which was a semi-secret entity, presented as a para-masonic deviant lodge, born within the local mafia clans ('ndrangheta). Through a narrative approach to investigating files, surveillance tapes, and trial documentation and conducting interviews, we posit a new theoretical framework to explore reputation by invisibility. This kind of reputation can be effective when individuals wish to act both in criminal arenas and in political-institutional ones. We argue that reputation by invisibility can effectively amplify deviance and criminality, such as corruption, by building narratives around specific individual skills and their organizational yet secretive abilities.
Item Type: | Article |
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Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Sociology and Criminology, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 29 Jul 2025 08:48 |
Last Modified: | 29 Jul 2025 08:48 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/41336 |
Available files
Filename: The Reputation of the Invisibles The Society of Santa as a Para-Masonic Criminal Entity Above the Calabrian Ndrangheta.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0