Innovative partnerships for the utilization of confiscated assets previously owned by mafias
Abstract
Purpose
The third sector is a producer of trust and positive social interactions, while the mafias destroy trust and social norms. Confiscation of assets and reusing confiscated assets are important tools from an economic and symbolic point of view for contrasting the mafias and promoting a sustainable and fair economy. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of the third sector for reusing confiscated assets.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is based on a theoretical analysis of why a third sector role is utilized for reusing confiscated assets, thus focusing on the economic, social and cultural dimensions. Italian legislation and data are presented for showing the relevant and innovative role of the third sector for reusing confiscated assets. A case study of the city of Forlì, based in Northern Italy, is presented and is of particular interest because it is a part of Italy that does not have a historical presence of the mafias. The University of Bologna is now a partner of the project through the Observatory of Legality. Five hectares of confiscated, urban land have been given to two social cooperatives for organic agriculture and social gardening, which are managed by disadvantaged people working in the cooperatives.
Findings
The case study offers useful implications for other national and international situations. The results support that the third sector can be an effective partner in managing and restoring the goods to their community.
Research limitations/implications
A suggested focus on a European framework toward a more integrated approach for reusing confiscated assets.
Practical implications
An opportunity for policy decisions to be made toward a stronger approach for reusing confiscated assets via the third sector and civil society actors, starting from positive cases, such as the Forlì case study.
Social implications
Possibility of a stronger civic engagement for reusing confiscated assets previously owned by mafias.
Originality/value
Scaling up from a pioneering activity to a large-scale network of social enterprises and partnerships could make the difference.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to the Observatory of Legality of Forlì and the Department of Economics at the University of Bologna (Italy), who partially funded the research. Also, thanks to Megan Alessandrini, Gianpaolo Barbetta, Marco Borraccetti, Fernando Dalla Chiesa, Pascal Dey, Bob Doherty, Florentine Maier, Franco Marzocchi, Georg Mildenberger, Sara Rago, Roberto Rizza, Paolo Venturi, Stefano Zamagni and all participants of ISTR 2014 and ISIRC 2014 for the useful insights.
Citation
Mazzanti, G.M., Ecchia, G. and Komatsu, T. (2016), "Innovative partnerships for the utilization of confiscated assets previously owned by mafias", Social Enterprise Journal, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 21-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-08-2015-0019
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited