Salute, violenza, rivolta: leggere il conflitto nel carcere contemporaneo,

The article presents a sociological reflection on violence and conflict within the prison setting. Starting from an analysis of the various facets that violence can assume within a total institution, the Authors reflect on the climate of conflict that characterized the Italian penitentiary between 2019 and 2020. More specifically, the analysis is focused on the impact of Covid 19 not only on the prisoners?health (narrowly understood), but, in a broader perspective, on the internal dynamics of conflict, on the representations of prisoners?riots and on the reactions of the system as a whole. Moving beyond the predominant narrative, centered on the irrationality of the prisoners' actions and on the destructiveness deprived of political motivations, the article is an attempt to reflect in terms of possible clashes between rationalities. The article ends presenting the risks of closure that the Italian penitentiary run in the current context, underling how a reaction to an extraordinary situation may turn into an ordinary worsening of the conflicts and systematic violation of rights.