New podcast series ‘De strijd tegen de maffia’ reveals the silent war behind the rule of law

How does organized crime infiltrate our institutions? What is the cost of delivering justice under threat? And what can we learn from Italy, a country with decades of experience fighting the mafia? In the eight-part podcast series 'De strijd tegen de maffia' (The Fight Against the Mafia), university lecturer and host Mr. Laura Peters speaks with leading experts from both the Netherlands and Italy. The result is a compelling documentary about subversion, moral boundaries, and the resilience of the rule of law.

The series brings together unique voices: from emeritus professor of Subversion Studies Pieter Tops to Alfredo Nunzi from Europol, and from whistleblower lawyer Mr. Onno de Jong to prominent Italian criminal judge Raffaello Magi (Supreme Court of Cassation) and Civita Di Russo, Italy’s first female whistleblower lawyer. Each conversation reveals new layers of a problem that is becoming less and less underground.

Between security, legitimacy, and international cooperation

The podcast painfully and precisely exposes how criminal networks operate as modern service providers with global branches. At the same time, the series shows how vulnerable institutions become when criminal structures start to undermine the legal order. Themes such as ‘crime-as-a-service,’ the use of whistleblowers, and the personal risks for judges and lawyers are discussed without sensationalism but with great urgency.

The strength of the series lies in its combination of legal depth and human stories. From the Spartacus trial against the Casalesi clan to lessons from the Marengo trial in the Netherlands - De strijd tegen de maffia links international experiences to current Dutch realities.

A must-listen for everyone who takes the rule of law seriously

With sharp questions, clear explanations, and plenty of room for reflection, Laura Peters offers a series that is both informative and confronting. De strijd tegen de maffia is relevant for academics, legal professionals, policymakers, and journalists, but also for anyone concerned about the future of our democratic legal order.

The podcast is now available on Spotify (in Dutch):

This article was published by the Faculty of Law.