Reversible destiny : mafia, antimafia, and the struggle for Palermo

357 Pages·2003·3.099 MB·English

by  Schneider, Peter T., Schneider, Jane

Reversible Destiny
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Reversible Destiny
Mafia,Antimafia,
and the Struggle for Palermo
Jane C. Schneider
Peter T. Schneider
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
Berkeley · Los Angeles · London
University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California
University of California Press, Ltd.
London, England
© 2003 by the Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Schneider, Jane, 1938—
Reversible destiny : mafia, antimafia, and the struggle
for Palermo / Jane C. Schneider and Peter T. Schneider.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0–520-22100-1 (cloth : alk. paper).—ISBN
0–520-23609-2 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Mafia—Italy—Palmero—History. 2. Palmero
(Italy)—History. 3. Palermo (Italy)—Politics and gov-
ernment. I. Schneider, Peter T., 1933– II. Title.
HV6453.I83 M376432 2003
364.1'06'0945823—dc21
2002013905
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication is both acid-free and
totally chlorine-free (TCF). It meets the minimum re-
quirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48–1992 (R 1997) (Per-
manence of Paper).
In Memory of Eric R.Wolf
Scholar,Teacher,and Friend
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Contents
List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
Maps xiv
1. The Palermo Crucible 1
2. The Genesis of the Mafia 22
3. The Mafia and the Cold War 49
4. The Cultural Production of Violence 81
5. Seeking Causes, Casting Blame 103
6. Mysteries and Poisons 127
7. The Antimafia Movement 160
8. Backlash and Renewal 193
9. Civil Society Groundwork 216
10. Recuperating the Built Environment 235
11. “Cultural Re-education” 260
12. Reversible Destiny 290
Notes 305
References 317
Index 331
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Illustrations
1. Palermo of the popolobefore 1968 7
2. Palermo of the aristocracy 8
3. The “sack” of Palermo 17
4. Giulio Andreotti and Salvo Lima 57
5. Luciano Liggio 60
6. Michele “the Pope” Greco 61
7. Mafia banquet entertainer 97
8. Boy killed by mafiosi 104
9. Judge Giovanni Falcone 136
10. Vito Ciancimino 141
11. The maxi-trial 142
12. Giovanni Brusca 155
13. Plaque commemorating
the assassination of General dalla Chiesa 182
14. Leoluca Orlando 185
15. Monument to the Victims of the Mafia 196
16. The Falcone Tree 206
17. The first sheets protesting the massacre of Judge Falcone 207
18. The “hill of dishonor” 253
19. The “Hotel of the Mafia” 255
20. Giancarlo Caselli 261
21. Young boy poised with toy gun 289
ix