Origins and Development of the ’Ndrangheta

Abstract

Cosa Nostra, Camorra, and ’Ndrangheta are an original criminal product of the nineteenth century in Italy, in particular of the three southern regions: Sicily, Campania, and Calabria. Since their beginnings, they appeared as a devastating novelty compared to other criminal organizations. Presently, the ’Ndrangheta is the strongest and most well-established organization in Italy, Europe, and several nonEuropean countries. It controls the international drug trade due to its relationships with the most important producers of cocaine. The ’Ndrangheta practices are not limited to killing many people outside Calabria, i.e. Duisburg in Germany on August 15, 2007, but it also heavily influences politics in Calabria as well as in Lombardy, Liguria, and Piedmont. Although its origin is ancient, only in recent times the ’Ndrangheta has become the focus of public interest. Which are the most important aspects to explain its current strength?