L’associazione di malfattori : tra categoria giuridica e prassi criminale nell’Italia alle soglie dell’Unità

This paper intends to analyse the development of the legal category of the association of malefactors in post-unification Italy (1861-1890). The figure of the malefactor has not only been studied from the point of view of criminal legislation, but by referring to the socio-cultural imaginary that this criminal figure generated in the political-judicial discourse of the time. The malefactoris rightfully part of the debate on the criminalisation processes against the so-called ‘dangerous classes’. However, the legal category of the wrongdoer appeared very fluid, adapting itself to the liberal state’s objectives of maintaining public order in the difficult post-unification years until the crisis at the end of the century.