Course background

**Open to all students, regardless of major — meets the PSU general education requirement of an inter-domain course, GS & GH.

**No Italian language requirement — all speakers, tours, and instruction are in English.

The study of crime and organized groups, through embedded international travel, will include a look at the history of organized crime, the effects of globalization on the proliferation across borders and the threat to international security, and the current movement to end the influence of Mafia groups.  As the “birthplace” of organized crime in the 19th century, Palermo provides a unique setting for experiencing the historical and living tradition of organized crime.  It is Sicily’s varied history and multiple governments that led to the creation and necessity of the Mafia.  

The Mafia began as a way of life: a way to protect one’s family and loved ones from the injustice of the government.   Sicily’s long string of judicially inept governments fostered an environment where those who were shrewd enough could manipulate the system to their advantage, creating wealth, power, and prestige.  Rome, as the capital of Italy, has seen the effects of Mafia groups and legislators and judges have worked relentlessly to create laws that would drastically affect the structure and reach of the Mafia. 

In 2004, seven young social activists in Palermo, Sicily, actively worked to bring about social change by encouraging pubic resistance to the Mafia’s extortion and intimidation through the pizzo; creating the association Comitato Addiopizzo (goodbye pizzo).  The association provides legal, moral, and social support to those brave enough to report extortionists to the police.  As a result of their efforts, the association has over 200 wholesale traders and entrepreneurs and over 9,000 consumers committed to buy only at shops or businesses belonging to the “pizzo-free” list.   

Organized crime is changing.  These networks are now involved in many different types of criminal activities across many countries including human trafficking, drugs, illicit goods, weapons, counterfeiting and money laundering. 

The ease of international trade and travel, access to information, advanced technology, and encrypted communication provide opportunities for transnational crime to flourish. Today’s crimes are more than ever, increasingly complex. Organized criminal activity is interconnected and global, and the crimes take place on both the physical and virtual levels. More than ever, there is a need for cooperation globally to address the security challenges affecting our societies. 

Our travel to Sicily and Rome, Italy, will focus on the rich history of organized criminal groups, their globalization and how it affects not only Italy, but other countries, and the social activism which has profoundly changed the economic, social, and psychological landscape of the city and country.


Students participating in this course will learn about the history of organized crime through visits to landmarks of historical significance and tours which highlight the history of Sicily and Rome and the formation of organized crime.  Students will learn and discuss the evolution of crime groups and the globalization of criminal activities with experts.  The opportunity to meet with prosecutors and police/investigators will allow students to see the Italian government’s response to the ongoing threat of organized crime.  Prosecutors in Sicily have been executed by the Mafia for prosecution of their members and are a part of the ongoing movement to eradicate organized crime in Italy.       

Additionally, students will speak to the social activists that boldly engineered the Addiopizzo movement and the business owners who joined the movement and refused to pay the “pizzo” or protection money.   The embedded travel opportunities will instill in PSU students the importance of cultivating an awareness of human circumstances and differences and civil engagement.


Course description – PSU

CRIM 225: Organized Crime in Film & Society, examines the relationship between criminological and justice theories regarding organized crime and the portrayal of the mafia in popular Italian American film. The course follows two simultaneous threads of inquiry: an examination of historical and theoretical models of organized crime in the United States and the state and federal laws that address them; and an analysis of how such models are depicted in American films and television about the Italian American community. By the end of the course, students will gain key literacy skills by identifying varied definitions of organized crime and distinguishing between structural models, particularly La Cosa Nostra and network models. Students will also sharpen analytical and critical thinking skills through written and spoken interpretations of films and the scholarly approaches to studying organized crime (e.g. research methods). Throughout the semester students will also be able to apply knowledge of the social scientific aspects of organized crime to guide their observations and analyses of film and Italian American culture, thus refining Integrative Thinking across the humanities and social sciences.

Learning Objectives 

The learning objectives of the course both at home and abroad, will explore issues of historical, critical, and artistic significance of organized crime. 

  1. To understand the host society politics, economy, society, history, identity and culture. 
  2. To recognize the cultural, political, geographical, and social significance of organized crime, beginning in the nineteenth century. 
  3. Discusssocial responsibility and how social change affects social structures and individuals. 
  4. Understand how structural inequities in society are shaped by historical, psychological, social, and political factors. 
  5. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in the areas of cultural analysis and intercultural understanding 
  6. To examine the contemporary social, cultural, economic, and artistic significance of organized crime in Europe vs. the US. 
  7. To compare the common legal frameworks designed to prevent and control organized crime. 
  8. Analyze how and why models are depicted in American films and television about the Italian American community. 
  9. Distinguish between the interpretation of the mafia emerging from movies and the real representation of the socio-criminal phenomenon. 

Cross-cultural goals 

  1. Students will appreciate the differences between cultures and develop open-mindedness and respect for differences in culture. 
  2. Students will gain an understanding of Italian society, including its politics, economy, society, history, identity, and culture.
  3. Understand the diversity of Italy and better understand the diversity of our country.
  4. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in cultural analysis and intercultural understanding.

Commitment

From decision day (February 7) though the commitment deadline (Monday February 26), students will be able to confirm their spot on the program by completing the financial commitment process. In order for students to ‘commit’ to the summer program, they must carefully complete (read and sign) the following items in their application:

  • COMMIT – 1. Education Abroad Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
  • COMMIT – 2. Education Abroad MOA Appendix A: Conditions for Enrollment and Academics
  • COMMIT – 3. Education Abroad MOA Appendix B: Travel Health and Safety

Students will not be considered fully committed to the program until they have electronically signed all three (3) documents in their application. 

Withdrawal Process and Penalties

If a student needs to withdraw from a program, they need to reach out to EducationAbroad@psu.edu immediately. Starting on February 26 (after the commitment deadline) there may be financial penalties for students choosing to withdraw from their summer program.

Regardless of the reason and effective date of withdrawal, it is the responsibility of students to immediately notify Education Abroad in writing and to understand the implications of their withdrawal actions. Please refer to the Education Abroad withdrawal policy outlined on our website for details. Education Abroad makes every attempt at keeping the program and administrative costs to a minimum. However, when you commit to participating in a program, Education Abroad begins to make financial commitments on your behalf. In case of withdrawal, the following fees will be charged to your Bursar account:

  • Upon Commitment – 90 Days Prior to Departure: 25% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
  • 30 – 89 Days Prior to Departure: 50% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee
  • 29 Days – Departure Date: 100% Program Fee + EA Admin Fee