Politics, Religion, and the Mafia

When visiting Italy, people are warned to avoid three topics when conversing with natives: politics, religion, and the mafia.   

I totally understand why politics should be off-limits in Italy.  One quickly realizes that Italy's political culture began many hundreds of years ago with back-room arm twisting and outright attempts to invade neighboring cities.  The recent political history of Italy included many of these same tactics and was a time of intense political flux.  Between the 1920s and mid-1940s, Italy's allegiances flip-flopped back and forth so many times it is hard to even keep track.  Italy was happy to be a pawn between the German block and the British/French/American block in hopes of gaining colonial conquests in neighboring Africa and the Middle East.  The rise of Mussolini continued to confuse the political landscape and may have begun the necessary culture of keeping your views to yourself as Mussolini notoriously eradicated political opponents.  The years after Mussolini involved internal conflict as Italy struggled with whether to continue to follow the monarchy or whether to establish a republican government.  So, it is likely Italy's recent political history that persuades natives to keep their political opinions to themselves and become uncomfortable when asked about their beliefs.  

Religion runs deep in Italy.  There is no arguing that Italy is the home of the Catholic religion as Saint Peter established the first Christian Church in Rome.  About 80% of Italians are Catholic, but only a third are considered to be active practitioners.  One Florintine told us that while everyone wears a cross, most consider it more of a fashion statement than a religious symbol.  In a country that is so deeply entrenched in religious history, it is easy to understand why people would be weary of discussing any beliefs that question the power or authority of Jesus, Mary or God.  Until 1948, Roman Catholicism was the official religion of Italy and nonbelievers were exiled or otherwise persecuted.  There is no true separation of Church and State in Italy and religious symbols are common in schools and government offices.  Italy is, however, a progressive state and allows for divorce and abortion.  The right to an abortion has been upheld by an overwhelming majority of the electorate in two referendum votes in recent history.  While Italians may have social views that are in conflict with the teachings of the Catholic Church, they are clearly not comfortable publicly discussing those views.

 The third, and final, taboo conversation topic is the mob.  I have gotten many questions about the reactions of Italians to the death of James Gandolfini, who played notorious mobster Tony Soprano on the hit television show.  His death got very little publicity in Italy, even though he died in Rome and was scheduled to attend a film festival in Sicily.  My sense is that Italians are smart to keep their mouths shut about the mob - no point in making yourself a target. My other sense is that the mob doesn't really play much of a role in Northern Italy where we are visiting.  However, in Southern Italy, particularly Sicily, the mob is still very active and has much influence in the runnings of the government.  There is currently a trial of former public officials garnering national attention in Italy.  These officials are accused of negotiating lighter criminal sentences and better jail conditions for mafia operatives in exchange for stoppage in car bombings by the mafia that killed many innocent people, including a baby and a judge's wife.  While Italian Americans may have a perception of mafia machismo and bravado, the killing power of the mafia is still very real in Southern Italy and people would be foolish to openly discuss mafia membership or crimes.