About 41 bis. Between history and semantics, between law and sociology

The article aims to bring the issue of 41 bis “down to earth”, reconstructing its origins and meaning. It analyzes the historical relationship between the mafia and prison, and more broadly between the mafia, prison, and the state. It then offers an exemplary and concrete representation of the influence of this relationship on the history of the fortunes of the great mafia organizations. Finally, he goes back to August 1992, when the law was approved in parliament, to recall the climate in which it was approved and the - still valid - project that animated it.
L’articolo si propone di rimettere “con i piedi per terra” la questione del 41 bis, ricostruendone le origini e il senso. Analizza il rapporto storico tra mafia e carcere, e più ampiamente tra mafia, carcere e Stato. Propone poi una rappresentazione esemplare e concreta dell’influenza di questo rapporto sulla storia delle fortune delle grandi organizzazioni mafiose. Torna infine all’agosto del 1992, quando la norma fu approvata in parlamento, per ricordare il clima in cui venne approvata e il progetto -ancora valido- che la animava.