Are we overestimating the "maranza"?

Recently, a police operation carried out in Milan led to the arrest of dozens of young people, mainly second-generation immigrants. It was accompanied by a statement that many considered excessively triumphant from the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, who usually announces the success of major operations targeting drug trafficking or large criminal groups. The operation was also commented on by Mayor Beppe Sala, who explicitly used the term «maranza»– a word rarely used, until then, by institutional representatives. The expression refers to a particularly sensitive issue in Milan and other parts of Italy: the small episodes of petty crime committed mostly by very young second-generation Italians, often of North African origin, coming from the city suburbs, who display a “street” attitude conveyed especially through their clothing. Today, the term maranza almost always carries a negative connotation, often accompanied by racist undertones, and fits into the broader phenomenon of baby gangs long portrayed by certain media in sensationalist tones. The result is that this subculture, however potentially problematic, is described as if it were an organization, when in fact it is a subculture.

«The maranza have suddenly become the bogeyman of Milan’s streets,» reads Rivista Studio. «It all happened around the time of Covid. Right after the pandemic crisis, a broad segment of Milan’s population perceived the city as more dangerous. [...] In a country already worn down by years of Islamophobic and racist rhetoric, a new figure enters the collective imagination, perfect for fueling ancestral fears.» In this context, marked by a growing sense of insecurity (real or not), the so-called anti-maranza patrols began to spark strong controversy: groups of young men, aged between twenty and thirty and generally far-right, organize to patrol certain areas of the city with the declared intent of “restoring safety.” These groups, however, are accused of targeting second-generation youths; their actions have often taken the form of unprovoked assaults, raising concerns over a racist and violent drift disguised as public order protection. Beppe Sala himself has condemned these initiatives on several occasions, warning against the risk of fueling a dangerous narrative based on criminalizing entire marginalized youth groups.

«The 'anti-maranza' battle is nothing more than an attempt by far-right extremists to exploit the population's fears [...], once again proving their aversion to the rules and principles of democracy,» reads a statement signed by a series of progressive organizations, trade unions, and political parties on the occasion of a protest promoted with the slogan «Marginalize the maranza», organized by Forza Nuova in Verona. Over the past decades, Italy has seen a general decline in all types of crime, yet the perception of danger remains generally very high among the population – especially in large cities. The increase in the sense of insecurity within major urban centers can be attributed to several factors. This was already explained years ago in Repubblica by Alessandro Marangoni, who was prefect of Milan under the Pisapia administration. On one hand, an aging population contributes to greater distrust toward anything new or different, including the phenomenon of baby gangs and maranza. On the other hand, the state of permanent crisis experienced by many Western countries contributes to making people more vulnerable, leading them to perceive their surroundings as more threatening. Added to all this is the not insignificant role played by media and politics: the crime alarm tends to attract more media attention and mobilize electoral support – in 2020, for example, a surreal video went viral showing Matteo Salvini ringing the doorbell of an alleged drug dealer in Bologna to ask if he was selling drugs in the neighborhood.

For some time now, right-wing parties, both at the local and national level, have accused Milan’s center-left administration – in power since 2011 – of neglecting the issue of security. According to the harshest critics, the policies implemented by the current city council are too lenient. Beppe Sala’s administration responds by emphasizing that its approach focuses on the root causes of the problem, avoiding a purely repressive stance. According to progressive political forces, one of the key aspects of the issue lies in the lack of concrete opportunities for young people from the suburbs, including many second-generation Italians often labeled as maranza, who generally live in conditions of social and economic marginalization. In this scenario, some experts point to the need to focus on and counter the growing toxic masculinity among young people, both online and offline – a phenomenon that almost always leads to behaviors of dominance and disregard for the rules.