All in the Game: The Influence of Social Networks and Geography on Conflicts among Camorra Clans

• In Event: The Role of Geography in How We View Gangs

Abstract

Empirical research on street gangs has examined geography and social network mechanisms to analyze the patterns of gang violence. Intergroup conflicts also characterize the Camorra clans in Naples, where competition among groups to control economic activities and exert power on the territory is common. Such conflicts are often attributed to the absence of higher levels of coordination, the fragmentary nature of the clans, and the fluidity of alliances. Yet, empirical research rarely analyzes the generative processes that give rise to the network of intergroup conflicts. The present study seeks to analyze the effects of network and spatial processes on the conflicts among Camorra clans in the city of Naples, Italy. Exponential random graph models (ERGMs) are used to estimate the probability of forming a tie in the conflict network as a function of geographic proximity, endogenous structural effects (e.g., reciprocity, transitivity), and covariates related to the clans (e.g., size, illicit activities) and their turf neighborhoods (e.g., socio-demographic variables of the neighborhood).

Authors

• Giulia Berlusconi, Università Cattolica

• Francesco Calderoni, Università Cattolica - Transcrime

• Marco Dugato, Università Cattolica - Transcrime