RISULTATI RICERCA

The following four articles in this issue may be considered as strictly related. It seems advisable, therefore, to present there abstracts altogether. The four articles are: a) the article by Fedele Ruggeri, concerning the relationship between citizenship and authority (such a relationship is seen by Ruggeri as having an essential value, non only for its very development, but also in order to avoid atrophy risks within the security scenario); b) the one by Simona Carboni, dealing with the citizens’ images shared by the operators in the security field; c) the study by Riccardo Guidi, focused on the local police orientation toward citizens in the context of the local police operational characteristics; d) the analysis by Marta Bonetti regarding the tensions within local police stemming out of the difficulties connected with the management of its interactions with citizens, on one hand, and the sharing with them of significance and objectives, in the other. Accordingly, this long abstract deals, in the first place, with the Ruggeri’s discussion of how to define the real essence of the relationship between citizenship and authority. He begins with the identification of three essential dimensions of this phenomenon. One, and very important, dimension is related to the impossibility of thinking in terms of the ultimate nature of things, that is, of their essence. On the basis of Weber’s argument concerning the impossibility of apprehending the direction of the cosmic development, and hence the necessity to develop, on our part, the ability to create it, Ruggeri states two essential elements for epistemological orientation, closely interconnected. The first is the reciprocal impossibility of expanding reality predicates and knowledge propositions; the second, the impossibility of expanding the reference to the viewpoint of the observer, as well as to the n observers’ viewpoints. In such a way, it will be possible to define, in a less approximate (and/or less wistful) way; the significance of said relationship between citizenship and authority, making it possible to move operationally within it. Concerning methodology, instead of a questionnaire with pre-codified answers, it has been preferred to allow the relatively few Local Police operators involved, a wider freedom in analyzing and deepening the different issues. As for the results, three clusters of responses have been identified. The first relates to a growing demand for intervention by the authority. The second is connected to a strong need to keep closely connected the various aspects and functions of the Local Police aspect. The third justifies a stronger necessity and possibility, for services, operators and citizens, to develop their knowledge, self-consciousness and recrimination. Luca Carboni discusses the results of another inquiry about the social representations of citizens shared by the security operators. To such a purpose, Carboni examines the importance of said representations as an instrument to support the managing of an operational change. The main findings of Carbon’s research concern: - the citizens’ fragmentation in terms of needs and interests, with a tendency toward conflict; - the way in which security is produced on a day-to-day basis; - the citizen seen as a danger source; - the citizen seen as an actor who needs support. In his concluding remarks, Carboni points how important is the representation of the citizen as an actor to support for a security service oriented for the citizens’ protection and valorization. 197 Riccardo Guidi focuses his analysis on the understanding of connections between the security authority’s role and citizenship In such a connection, Guidi emphasizes the relationship between the various functions of Local Police, and the tasks to be performed by said Police. Assuming as a starting point the above classification, Guidi defines six essential Local Police activities, that is: - to effectively communicate both image and offer of service of Local Police; - to effectively assist crime victims; - to effectively protect weakest people; - to effectively assist citizens in understanding the social meaning of laws and regulations; - to offer and support a stable basis for recrimination and crime reporting; - to effectively respond to recriminations and crime reporting. In conclusion, Guidi’s opinion is that Local Police should strengthen activation, localization and integration, through a centralization of the priorities ranking, a better operators’ training, and a consolidation (on a more permanent basis) of Local Police relations with political parties. Marta Bonetti scrutinizes the tensions originating within Local Police out of the orientation toward citizens. Bonetti’s work is aimed to define a new orientation for Local Police future action and practice, and hence it must be defined as an example of research intervention. Among her most interesting findings is the uncertainly on the part of the Local Police operators in defining a situation which is characterized by change, ambiguity, an unpleasant perception of their new role and a new scenario of constant transformation. In addition there is now, for Local Police operators, the need to confront themselves with the diversity of identification and competence. Besides, there is a lack of an orientation toward action. Finally, it should be kept in mind that Local Police operators must function as an interface of Local Government with citizens, in a situation characterized by continuous organizational, sociological and psychological turmoil, due (among other things) to the lack of a clear action orientation and definition of roles.

The following four articles in this issue may be considered as strictly related. It seems advisable, therefore, to present there abstracts altogether. The four articles are: a) the article by Fedele Ruggeri, concerning the relationship between citizenship and authority (such a relationship is seen by Ruggeri as having an essential value, non only for its very development, but also in order to avoid atrophy risks within the security scenario); b) the one by Simona Carboni, dealing with the citizens’ images shared by the operators in the security field; c) the study by Riccardo Guidi, focused on the local police orientation toward citizens in the context of the local police operational characteristics; d) the analysis by Marta Bonetti regarding the tensions within local police stemming out of the difficulties connected with the management of its interactions with citizens, on one hand, and the sharing with them of significance and objectives, in the other. Accordingly, this long abstract deals, in the first place, with the Ruggeri’s discussion of how to define the real essence of the relationship between citizenship and authority. He begins with the identification of three essential dimensions of this phenomenon. One, and very important, dimension is related to the impossibility of thinking in terms of the ultimate nature of things, that is, of their essence. On the basis of Weber’s argument concerning the impossibility of apprehending the direction of the cosmic development, and hence the necessity to develop, on our part, the ability to create it, Ruggeri states two essential elements for epistemological orientation, closely interconnected. The first is the reciprocal impossibility of expanding reality predicates and knowledge propositions; the second, the impossibility of expanding the reference to the viewpoint of the observer, as well as to the n observers’ viewpoints. In such a way, it will be possible to define, in a less approximate (and/or less wistful) way; the significance of said relationship between citizenship and authority, making it possible to move operationally within it. Concerning methodology, instead of a questionnaire with pre-codified answers, it has been preferred to allow the relatively few Local Police operators involved, a wider freedom in analyzing and deepening the different issues. As for the results, three clusters of responses have been identified. The first relates to a growing demand for intervention by the authority. The second is connected to a strong need to keep closely connected the various aspects and functions of the Local Police aspect. The third justifies a stronger necessity and possibility, for services, operators and citizens, to develop their knowledge, self-consciousness and recrimination. Luca Carboni discusses the results of another inquiry about the social representations of citizens shared by the security operators. To such a purpose, Carboni examines the importance of said representations as an instrument to support the managing of an operational change. The main findings of Carbon’s research concern: - the citizens’ fragmentation in terms of needs and interests, with a tendency toward conflict; - the way in which security is produced on a day-to-day basis; - the citizen seen as a danger source; - the citizen seen as an actor who needs support. In his concluding remarks, Carboni points how important is the representation of the citizen as an actor to support for a security service oriented for the citizens’ protection and valorization. 197 Riccardo Guidi focuses his analysis on the understanding of connections between the security authority’s role and citizenship In such a connection, Guidi emphasizes the relationship between the various functions of Local Police, and the tasks to be performed by said Police. Assuming as a starting point the above classification, Guidi defines six essential Local Police activities, that is: - to effectively communicate both image and offer of service of Local Police; - to effectively assist crime victims; - to effectively protect weakest people; - to effectively assist citizens in understanding the social meaning of laws and regulations; - to offer and support a stable basis for recrimination and crime reporting; - to effectively respond to recriminations and crime reporting. In conclusion, Guidi’s opinion is that Local Police should strengthen activation, localization and integration, through a centralization of the priorities ranking, a better operators’ training, and a consolidation (on a more permanent basis) of Local Police relations with political parties. Marta Bonetti scrutinizes the tensions originating within Local Police out of the orientation toward citizens. Bonetti’s work is aimed to define a new orientation for Local Police future action and practice, and hence it must be defined as an example of research intervention. Among her most interesting findings is the uncertainly on the part of the Local Police operators in defining a situation which is characterized by change, ambiguity, an unpleasant perception of their new role and a new scenario of constant transformation. In addition there is now, for Local Police operators, the need to confront themselves with the diversity of identification and competence. Besides, there is a lack of an orientation toward action. Finally, it should be kept in mind that Local Police operators must function as an interface of Local Government with citizens, in a situation characterized by continuous organizational, sociological and psychological turmoil, due (among other things) to the lack of a clear action orientation and definition of roles.

The following four articles in this issue may be considered as strictly related. It seems advisable, therefore, to present there abstracts altogether. The four articles are: a) the article by Fedele Ruggeri, concerning the relationship between citizenship and authority (such a relationship is seen by Ruggeri as having an essential value, non only for its very development, but also in order to avoid atrophy risks within the security scenario); b) the one by Simona Carboni, dealing with the citizens’ images shared by the operators in the security field; c) the study by Riccardo Guidi, focused on the local police orientation toward citizens in the context of the local police operational characteristics; d) the analysis by Marta Bonetti regarding the tensions within local police stemming out of the difficulties connected with the management of its interactions with citizens, on one hand, and the sharing with them of significance and objectives, in the other. Accordingly, this long abstract deals, in the first place, with the Ruggeri’s discussion of how to define the real essence of the relationship between citizenship and authority. He begins with the identification of three essential dimensions of this phenomenon. One, and very important, dimension is related to the impossibility of thinking in terms of the ultimate nature of things, that is, of their essence. On the basis of Weber’s argument concerning the impossibility of apprehending the direction of the cosmic development, and hence the necessity to develop, on our part, the ability to create it, Ruggeri states two essential elements for epistemological orientation, closely interconnected. The first is the reciprocal impossibility of expanding reality predicates and knowledge propositions; the second, the impossibility of expanding the reference to the viewpoint of the observer, as well as to the n observers’ viewpoints. In such a way, it will be possible to define, in a less approximate (and/or less wistful) way; the significance of said relationship between citizenship and authority, making it possible to move operationally within it. Concerning methodology, instead of a questionnaire with pre-codified answers, it has been preferred to allow the relatively few Local Police operators involved, a wider freedom in analyzing and deepening the different issues. As for the results, three clusters of responses have been identified. The first relates to a growing demand for intervention by the authority. The second is connected to a strong need to keep closely connected the various aspects and functions of the Local Police aspect. The third justifies a stronger necessity and possibility, for services, operators and citizens, to develop their knowledge, self-consciousness and recrimination. Luca Carboni discusses the results of another inquiry about the social representations of citizens shared by the security operators. To such a purpose, Carboni examines the importance of said representations as an instrument to support the managing of an operational change. The main findings of Carbon’s research concern: - the citizens’ fragmentation in terms of needs and interests, with a tendency toward conflict; - the way in which security is produced on a day-to-day basis; - the citizen seen as a danger source; - the citizen seen as an actor who needs support. In his concluding remarks, Carboni points how important is the representation of the citizen as an actor to support for a security service oriented for the citizens’ protection and valorization. 197 Riccardo Guidi focuses his analysis on the understanding of connections between the security authority’s role and citizenship In such a connection, Guidi emphasizes the relationship between the various functions of Local Police, and the tasks to be performed by said Police. Assuming as a starting point the above classification, Guidi defines six essential Local Police activities, that is: - to effectively communicate both image and offer of service of Local Police; - to effectively assist crime victims; - to effectively protect weakest people; - to effectively assist citizens in understanding the social meaning of laws and regulations; - to offer and support a stable basis for recrimination and crime reporting; - to effectively respond to recriminations and crime reporting. In conclusion, Guidi’s opinion is that Local Police should strengthen activation, localization and integration, through a centralization of the priorities ranking, a better operators’ training, and a consolidation (on a more permanent basis) of Local Police relations with political parties. Marta Bonetti scrutinizes the tensions originating within Local Police out of the orientation toward citizens. Bonetti’s work is aimed to define a new orientation for Local Police future action and practice, and hence it must be defined as an example of research intervention. Among her most interesting findings is the uncertainly on the part of the Local Police operators in defining a situation which is characterized by change, ambiguity, an unpleasant perception of their new role and a new scenario of constant transformation. In addition there is now, for Local Police operators, the need to confront themselves with the diversity of identification and competence. Besides, there is a lack of an orientation toward action. Finally, it should be kept in mind that Local Police operators must function as an interface of Local Government with citizens, in a situation characterized by continuous organizational, sociological and psychological turmoil, due (among other things) to the lack of a clear action orientation and definition of roles.

The following four articles in this issue may be considered as strictly related. It seems advisable, therefore, to present there abstracts altogether. The four articles are: a) the article by Fedele Ruggeri, concerning the relationship between citizenship and authority (such a relationship is seen by Ruggeri as having an essential value, non only for its very development, but also in order to avoid atrophy risks within the security scenario); b) the one by Simona Carboni, dealing with the citizens’ images shared by the operators in the security field; c) the study by Riccardo Guidi, focused on the local police orientation toward citizens in the context of the local police operational characteristics; d) the analysis by Marta Bonetti regarding the tensions within local police stemming out of the difficulties connected with the management of its interactions with citizens, on one hand, and the sharing with them of significance and objectives, in the other. Accordingly, this long abstract deals, in the first place, with the Ruggeri’s discussion of how to define the real essence of the relationship between citizenship and authority. He begins with the identification of three essential dimensions of this phenomenon. One, and very important, dimension is related to the impossibility of thinking in terms of the ultimate nature of things, that is, of their essence. On the basis of Weber’s argument concerning the impossibility of apprehending the direction of the cosmic development, and hence the necessity to develop, on our part, the ability to create it, Ruggeri states two essential elements for epistemological orientation, closely interconnected. The first is the reciprocal impossibility of expanding reality predicates and knowledge propositions; the second, the impossibility of expanding the reference to the viewpoint of the observer, as well as to the n observers’ viewpoints. In such a way, it will be possible to define, in a less approximate (and/or less wistful) way; the significance of said relationship between citizenship and authority, making it possible to move operationally within it. Concerning methodology, instead of a questionnaire with pre-codified answers, it has been preferred to allow the relatively few Local Police operators involved, a wider freedom in analyzing and deepening the different issues. As for the results, three clusters of responses have been identified. The first relates to a growing demand for intervention by the authority. The second is connected to a strong need to keep closely connected the various aspects and functions of the Local Police aspect. The third justifies a stronger necessity and possibility, for services, operators and citizens, to develop their knowledge, self-consciousness and recrimination. Luca Carboni discusses the results of another inquiry about the social representations of citizens shared by the security operators. To such a purpose, Carboni examines the importance of said representations as an instrument to support the managing of an operational change. The main findings of Carbon’s research concern: - the citizens’ fragmentation in terms of needs and interests, with a tendency toward conflict; - the way in which security is produced on a day-to-day basis; - the citizen seen as a danger source; - the citizen seen as an actor who needs support. In his concluding remarks, Carboni points how important is the representation of the citizen as an actor to support for a security service oriented for the citizens’ protection and valorization. 197 Riccardo Guidi focuses his analysis on the understanding of connections between the security authority’s role and citizenship In such a connection, Guidi emphasizes the relationship between the various functions of Local Police, and the tasks to be performed by said Police. Assuming as a starting point the above classification, Guidi defines six essential Local Police activities, that is: - to effectively communicate both image and offer of service of Local Police; - to effectively assist crime victims; - to effectively protect weakest people; - to effectively assist citizens in understanding the social meaning of laws and regulations; - to offer and support a stable basis for recrimination and crime reporting; - to effectively respond to recriminations and crime reporting. In conclusion, Guidi’s opinion is that Local Police should strengthen activation, localization and integration, through a centralization of the priorities ranking, a better operators’ training, and a consolidation (on a more permanent basis) of Local Police relations with political parties. Marta Bonetti scrutinizes the tensions originating within Local Police out of the orientation toward citizens. Bonetti’s work is aimed to define a new orientation for Local Police future action and practice, and hence it must be defined as an example of research intervention. Among her most interesting findings is the uncertainly on the part of the Local Police operators in defining a situation which is characterized by change, ambiguity, an unpleasant perception of their new role and a new scenario of constant transformation. In addition there is now, for Local Police operators, the need to confront themselves with the diversity of identification and competence. Besides, there is a lack of an orientation toward action. Finally, it should be kept in mind that Local Police operators must function as an interface of Local Government with citizens, in a situation characterized by continuous organizational, sociological and psychological turmoil, due (among other things) to the lack of a clear action orientation and definition of roles.

In their introductory remarks of their article dealing with the concept of security and the security policies Eugenio Pizzimenti and Alberto Vannucci point out that the most important function of modern states is the guarantee of citizens’ security. They consider security as a collective problem: the institutions dictate prescriptions about the behaviors (or states of the world) which are prescribed, forbidden or permitted, providing a behavior model of conduct which is supported by a set of coherent expectations about the future actions of other persons. Whenever one or more social actors perceive that some of their rights are being seriously challenged by an external actor who assumes the intensity of an existential defy, securitization sets in, which is, among other things, a symptom of the potential failure of the ordinary political processes. Rights are intrinsically inter-subjective. A condition of relative security is a second best, that is, an equilibrium which, among other things, includes (and stabilizes) relationships of a conflictual nature or of an imperfect coordination, since in the real world rights are only imperfectly delineated. Hence, transaction costs are needed, in order to define, protect, capture, or transfer resources control rights. In the modern political theory there two approaches to the security problem: that of the voluntary exchange between rational political actors, and that which is founded upon the concept of political identity and acknowledgement. Security may be seen as a policy idea, as well as an object of public policy.

Rossella Selmini describes the result of an empirical research on the local police forces within the Region Emlia-Romagna, focused on their nature, functions and identity needs. Nine police functions have been identified, from the most important (traffic) to the least relevant (taxation). Within each these functions, the activities to be performed have been also defined. These activities have been ranked according to the relative frequency with which they are performed. Out of 14 activities related to the function traffic police, 8 were performed in more than 90% of the cases. Within the other 8 functions, the activities which were performed with a similar frequency were altogether only 10. A ranking of the same activities according to their relevance has been obtained also. Among her concluding remarks, Rossella Selmini points out that the character of the professional identity of local police is still shaping out, although important advances have been made during the most recent period.

Manuele Baghero and Nicoletta Curti discuss in their article a very important issue in the present debate, that is, to favor the demand for more security or to construct a wider consensus about what to do. In the opinion of Baghero and Curti, the security problem seems to be centered around three specific issues, namely: excessive emphasis, relativism and remotion. These three approaches may be dangerous, since they could ignite a democratic short circuit. Excessive emphasis is the result of a debate which has taken place during the last 15 years, giving priority to the issues connected with everyday criminality, although, however, without any consequential innovation in the strategies of public intervention. Relativism is the product of the preeminent importance given to the issues of security and risk prevention in the urban context. Also, of the corresponding weakening of interest for the connection between organized crime and the decrement of street crimes, on one hand, and economic criminality and the everyday quality of life, on the other. Remotion concerns the refusal to take in the due consideration family violence, and especially that which arises within a couple, as well as the connection between such a violence and the bothering and unruliness of young people group behavior. As a solution for the problems above indicated (as well as for other problems) Baghero and Curti suggest a strong policy for immigrants’ integration, a more balanced town planning mix of ghetti and areas for commercial and professional activities, a strong commitment to establish a judicial system to guarantee punishment within a maximum time, closely related to the type of crimes, the strengthening of police organization, on the other, a revitalization of communities to endow them with the capability for an effective fight against irresponsibility, a less episodic and more stable governance.

In his introductory article to the present issue of the Rivista Trimestrale di Scienza dell’Amministrazione, dedicated to a discussion of the theme of security, Fedele Ruggeri stresses the relevance of such a problem, especially if it is seen from the perspective of its substantial complication and contradiction. According to Ruggeri, there is a latent ambivalence, arising from the comparison between the amount of resources allotted to security, on one side, and the resulting adulteration and endangering of pre-existent abilities for the preservation of said security, on the other. Besides, the term security is very ample and encompassing. In effect, it tends to focus the attention on the aspects connected with surviving in the jungle, such as restoration, protection, and containment, more than with an improvement of the actors’ abilities. Such an improvement should be aimed to making said abilities more congruent with the new situation. In such a perspective, a strengthening of the collective capability of response cannot be achieved through a weakening of citizens’ capability. Finally, Fedele Ruggeri deals with the relationship between the concepts of citizenship and authority, and especially with the relationship between citizens and police members.