Institutionalised Deviance and Job-Fixing in the Italian University System

Abstract

This chapter examines alleged corruption in university appointment practices in Italy as a test case of what needs to be faced in any effort to harmonise approaches to curbing corruption within the European Union. It begins by noting the (neglected) relevance of the study of 'institutionalised deviance' for research into white-collar crime. It then goes on to describe examples of job-fixing, drawing both on the abundant exposee literature and direct experience of observant participation in the system. It discusses the extent to which these alleged abuses are perceived by those involved as really matters of pragmatic governance to avoid worse outcomes, and it ends by considering recent reforms that are supposed (yet again) to end these practices.