Cost Action CA21133 – Globalization, Illicit Trade, Sustainability and Security

LUMSA | February 6-7, Palermo, Italy

The GLITTS workshop ‘Civil Society’s Responses to Illicit Trade’ aims to critically examine civil society’s responses to illicit trade, illegal markets, and organized crime. Successful initiatives, particularly in Italy’s South and regions historically entrenched with mafia organizations, as well as internationally, include associations empowering entrepreneurs to oppose mafia extortion, encouraging consumers to support ‘ethical’ products from companies rejecting ‘pizzo’ payments, and openly challenging extortion schemes. Additionally, significant civic efforts support social cooperatives utilizing mafia-confiscated assets. These actions empower citizen-consumers to combat criminal activities, foster ethical exchanges, and promote civic responsibility. Through strategic financial decisions, they contribute to broader movements advocating justice and integrity in economic practices.
The workshop is structured into three sessions. The first session investigates civil society’s transformative role in shaping norms and countering organized crime, focusing on grassroots activism, advocacy, and the interaction between cultural norms and organized crime. The second session shifts attention to the role of consumers, exploring how political consumerism and ethical practices can disrupt criminal networks and contribute to justice and sustainability. Finally, the third session adopts a global-local perspective to analyze mafia dynamics and anti-mafia strategies, addressing sociological and methodological challenges in combating organized crime. Together, these sessions aim to provide a comprehensive analysis of civil society’s pivotal role in addressing the challenges posed by illicit trade and organized crime.

WORKSHOP AGENDA:
February 6
1:30 PM – Registration
2:00 PM – Start of the workshop
• Institutional greetings
• Participant introductions

2:30 PM – First Session
• 30-minute keynote: Baris Cayli Messina
• 1.5 hours of presentations
4:30 PM – End of session
BREAK
5:00 PM – Second Session
• 30-minute keynote: Carina Gunnarson
• 1.5 hours of presentations
7:00 PM – End of session
8.00 PM – Dinner at Ristorante Quattromani https://quattromaniristorante.it/ (Via Francesco Riso, 3)

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February 7
9:30 AM – Third Session
• 30-minute keynote: Theodoros Rakopoulos
• 1.5 hours of presentations
11:30 AM – End of session
BREAK
12:00 – 1:00 PM – Recap and future steps
• Recap, future directions, and administrative procedures (reimbursement details and further questions).
3:00 PM- Palermo No Mafia Tour
• For those who have booked the Palermo No Mafia Tour, the meeting point is Piazza Verdi, in front of the Teatro Massimo.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Stefano Caneppele, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Umberto Di Maggio, LUMSA University, Italy
Francesca Forno, University of Trento, Italy