Fiammetta Borsellino: "The mafia has changed its guise, but that does not make it any less dangerous"

Fragile, yet fundamental. Memory, in the face of time, can prove vulnerable. To prevent it from fading or, worse still, being lost, it needs to be supported by voices, faces and images that keep it alive. Direct testimonies, such as the one recently given at USI by Fiammetta Borsellino, daughter of the late magistrate Paolo Borsellino, in an event reserved for various classes from middle and high schools in Ticino. For one morning, at the West Campus Lugano Aula Magna, pupils from different schools in our canton enjoyed a valuable bridge to a past that the younger generations – their own – have not been able to experience, but from which they can learn.

The encounter, enriched by the screening of the documentary film "Falcone e Borsellino – Il fuoco della memoria" and speeches by Costantino Visconti (Full Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Palermo), was promoted and coordinated by the Ticino Observatory on Organised Crime (O-TiCO) of USI and its Academic Director Annamaria Astrologo. As part of the third mandate, the goal was to share knowledge with the local community, specifically the middle and high school classes involved.

On the sidelines of the event, we spoke with Fiammetta Borsellino, whose interview is presented below.

Mrs Borsellino, a few decades ago, as we saw in the documentary film "Falcone e Borsellino – Il fuoco della memoria", the Mafia's actions were more blatant. The attacks on your father and Giovanni Falcone sadly scarred an era and several generations. Today, the actions of mafia organisations are perhaps more subtle, less conspicuous. In your opinion, does this weaken the position of those who strive to awaken in the population, especially among younger people, who have not experienced certain events, a sense of responsibility and duty towards the phenomenon?

"The fact that there are no longer criminal acts of this severity is undoubtedly a good thing. At the same time, the public's attention must be drawn to the fact that today's mafias operate differently. Organisations seek alliances, corrupt relationships, and complicity; they manipulate contracts, try to channel public money - especially in their own interests - and much more. In short, the mafia has changed its face, but this does not make it any less dangerous. Unfortunately, drug trafficking remains at the top of their business agenda, a trade that causes many deaths every day, especially among young people. They, too, are victims of the mafia, not just magistrates. We must remain vigilant and on our guard. This is also because we cannot rule out the possibility that these organisations may, in the future, return to more violent strategies.

You mentioned the attention of the population, which is currently, however, increasingly directed towards a possible feeling of indifference and normalisation of injustice, generated by constant exposure to images of war, social struggles, crises, etc. Do you personally experience this when interacting with the public?

"Unfortunately, yes. One of the main problems we face today is the fact that violence is now inherent in everyday images, in children's games, and in news reports that too often emphasise bloody circumstances rather than positive examples. This risks fostering a habit of indifference when we should be nourishing ourselves with beauty. In my opinion, the continuous use of violent images, games and even language should be banned, because violence can start with words and lead to devastating consequences, even among the youngest, such as suicide. It is no coincidence, in my opinion, that one of the main scourges of this era is cyberbullying."

In this context, and returning to organised crime, what role do you think today's young people and young adults – such as those you spoke to at USI – play in the fight against both the Mafia and Mafia culture?

"In my opinion, young people today, compared to previous generations, have more tools to fight, to give a special meaning to the work they do and will do. This is also thanks to the examples they follow, which are not only from singers and actors but also, fortunately, from magistrates, activists, and people who have given their lives for the state. These are positive examples, as I said, that today's young people can draw on to gain firsthand experiences they have not had. In a recent survey, Rai Radio 2 asked several people who they would like to meet if they could spend a few minutes with a famous person. Many, even among the youngest, mentioned my father and Giovanni Falcone, along with other historical figures such as Nelson Mandela. This is a result that, in my opinion, should make us think positively."

And what role do universities such as USI play, which in 2021 founded the aforementioned Ticino Observatory on Organised Crime (O-TiCO)?

"They are fundamental and privileged platforms that allow us to create direct connections with young people, who will be the adults of tomorrow. In my opinion, it is essential to help them build awareness, which can be fostered through various channels. These include, of course, the direct testimonies of those who have experienced certain situations. I find it a powerful and impactful experience because young people can engage not with the pages of a book, but with the emotions and feelings of those who have experienced the story firsthand. However, this is just one piece of a puzzle that I am convinced must be developed in all its facets, including the aforementioned books, films, documentaries, theatre, music, and much more."

In Switzerland and in the Canton of Ticino, people are aware that the Mafia is present and active in the area, as there has been plenty of evidence of this over the years. The general feeling, however, is that the "real Mafia" – if you'll excuse the term – is and remains far away, at least a thousand kilometres further south. But is this really the case?

"Many of these beliefs are an easier way to eliminate problems, to sweep them under the carpet. These are very complex problems that find fertile ground in these areas, where mafias often expand their interests because they are attracted by the prospect of operating in economically more prosperous regions. Places such as the Canton of Ticino or northern Italy are attractive because of the possibility of channelling, laundering and recycling illicitly accumulated money".