Il ruolo e l’attivismo dei familiari delle vittime: agenti erosivi del potere mafioso

This contribution proposes a theoretical and empirical reflection on the activism of relatives of Mafia and organized crime victims and on the role they play in undermining Mafia power through their initiatives, as well as civil and social commitment. Particular attention will be paid to structured forms of mobilization such as associations developed in high-risk contexts. Starting from the sociological literature of Social Movement Studies, the article then examines the peculiarities that characterize this – little investigated – form of mobilization. Specifically, the motivations that drive relatives to activism, the organizational methods, the repertoires of protest and the gendered characterization of these groups will be analyzed. Although starting from the Italian case, identified as a paradigmatic context, reference will also be made to an empirical research carried out in Mexico alongside a collective of relatives of victims of enforced disappearance.