Paper short abstract:

The paper looks at the relationship between laws and collective behaviours. The "Severino" law, approved in Italy in 2012, has set within new frames the understanding of corruption mechanisms, as well as the definition of core concepts of the anti-corruption discourse, such as "prevention" and "transparency".

Paper long abstract:

In 2012 a new law in matter of transparency and anti-corruption has been approved in Italy. The law has set within new frames the understanding of corruption mechanisms, as well as the definition of core concepts of the anti-corruption discourse, such as "prevention" and "transparency". Moreover it has also re-defined the roles and tasks of actors and employees of the public sectors.

This paper looks at the relationship between the principles contained in the new legislation, the anti-corruption discourse (and rhetoric), trust and collective behaviours on multiple levels.

An accent is put on the consequent re-signification and rehabilitation of virtues and ethical values, and their practical and performative roles, in matter of prevention and awareness of the consequences caused by high levels of secrecy and informality in the administration of the "res publica".

The paper presents data collected during ethnographic fieldwork in the city of Monza, Northern Italy.