ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at some cases where masonic affiliation is instrumental, but not necessarily decisive, where institutional actors play a leading role in corruption, collusion or other illegal or extralegal practice. The role of mafias here tends to become residual, while political and bureaucratic actors – generally masons themselves – are indeed prominent as enablers or guarantors in the corresponding deals. We also explore how narratives around the masonry create expectations at the political and institutional level, eventually shaping politicians and bureaucrats’ behaviours (criminal and not criminal).
