Governing Crime or Governing through Crime? “Security Pacts” as a Policy Instrument in Italy (2007-2009)

This paper explores the territorial dimension of the local security policies, with reference to the “Security Pacts” signed in Italy between 2007 and 2009. The “Security Pacts” are a negotiation instrument introduced by the central government, aiming at changing the model of security governance at the local level. After describing how “Security Pacts” spread and which institutional actors have participated in them, this study aims at deepening the analysis of their territorial dimension. More specifically, the research question at the basis of this study focuses on the identification of the causes which can explain why the “Pacts” involve a variable number and different types of public administrations at different levels and why they tend to acquire specific spatial configurations rather than others. Three hypotheses will be tested based on empirical data (obtained using a Quantitative Narrative Analysis and with the aid of Geographic Information Systems and statistical tools) in order to identify which variable may explain better than others the propensity to use negotiation tools to solve security-related issues in different areas of the country.