Latvian–Azande Parallel: Corruption as Witchcraft for Latvia during the Transition

Klavs Sedlenieks

Latvian–Azande Parallel: Corruption as Witchcraft for Latvia during the Transition

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

Abstract

To a certain degree corruption for the contemporary Latvians is what witchcraft is for Azande described by Evans-Pritchard (1976). It is a concept, a mechanism and method for understanding, explaining, dealing with and also controlling the changing world. Corruption has not always been the pivoting concept and perhaps it might happen that in comparatively short time it will be substituted by something else. At present, however, corruption is what explains not only misfortune, but also luck and a whole set of current situations. Latvian-Azande parallel here is more a starting point for a discussion than a serious attempt to prove an analogy.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 2002
Externally published	Yes
Event	4th Nordic Conference on the Anthropology of Post-Socialism "Anthropological Perspectives on New Social and Cultural Divisions in East / Central Europe" - Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 20 Apr 2002 → 22 Apr 2002 Conference number: 4 http://www.anthrobase.com/Browse/home/Cnf/4nor/

Conference

Conference	4th Nordic Conference on the Anthropology of Post-Socialism "Anthropological Perspectives on New Social and Cultural Divisions in East / Central Europe"
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Copenhagen
Period	20/04/02 → 22/04/02
Internet address	http://www.anthrobase.com/Browse/home/Cnf/4nor/

Keywords*

anthropology
corruption
post-soviet
transition
Latvia
post-socialism
Baltic States
ethnography
witchcraft

Field of Science*

5.4 Sociology
5.7 Social and Economic geography
5.9 Other social sciences

Publication Type*

3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)

Access to Document

http://www.anthrobase.com/Txt/S/Sedlenieks_K_01.htm

Cite this

@conference{454db4ac5b8f4300bb5c616a4ad101fc,

title = "Latvian–Azande Parallel: Corruption as Witchcraft for Latvia during the Transition",

abstract = "To a certain degree corruption for the contemporary Latvians is what witchcraft is for Azande described by Evans-Pritchard (1976). It is a concept, a mechanism and method for understanding, explaining, dealing with and also controlling the changing world. Corruption has not always been the pivoting concept and perhaps it might happen that in comparatively short time it will be substituted by something else. At present, however, corruption is what explains not only misfortune, but also luck and a whole set of current situations. Latvian-Azande parallel here is more a starting point for a discussion than a serious attempt to prove an analogy.",

keywords = "anthropology, corruption, post-soviet, transition, Latvia, post-socialism, Baltic States, ethnography, witchcraft",

author = "Klavs Sedlenieks",

year = "2002",

language = "English",

note = "4th Nordic Conference on the Anthropology of Post-Socialism {"}Anthropological Perspectives on New Social and Cultural Divisions in East / Central Europe{"} ; Conference date: 20-04-2002 Through 22-04-2002",

url = "http://www.anthrobase.com/Browse/home/Cnf/4nor/",

}

Sedlenieks, K 2002, 'Latvian–Azande Parallel: Corruption as Witchcraft for Latvia during the Transition', Paper presented at 4th Nordic Conference on the Anthropology of Post-Socialism "Anthropological Perspectives on New Social and Cultural Divisions in East / Central Europe", Copenhagen, Denmark, 20/04/02 - 22/04/02. <http://www.anthrobase.com/Txt/S/Sedlenieks_K_01.htm>

TY - CONF

T1 - Latvian–Azande Parallel

T2 - 4th Nordic Conference on the Anthropology of Post-Socialism "Anthropological Perspectives on New Social and Cultural Divisions in East / Central Europe"

AU - Sedlenieks, Klavs

N1 - Conference code: 4

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - To a certain degree corruption for the contemporary Latvians is what witchcraft is for Azande described by Evans-Pritchard (1976). It is a concept, a mechanism and method for understanding, explaining, dealing with and also controlling the changing world. Corruption has not always been the pivoting concept and perhaps it might happen that in comparatively short time it will be substituted by something else. At present, however, corruption is what explains not only misfortune, but also luck and a whole set of current situations. Latvian-Azande parallel here is more a starting point for a discussion than a serious attempt to prove an analogy.

AB - To a certain degree corruption for the contemporary Latvians is what witchcraft is for Azande described by Evans-Pritchard (1976). It is a concept, a mechanism and method for understanding, explaining, dealing with and also controlling the changing world. Corruption has not always been the pivoting concept and perhaps it might happen that in comparatively short time it will be substituted by something else. At present, however, corruption is what explains not only misfortune, but also luck and a whole set of current situations. Latvian-Azande parallel here is more a starting point for a discussion than a serious attempt to prove an analogy.

KW - anthropology

KW - corruption

KW - post-soviet

KW - transition

KW - Latvia

KW - post-socialism

KW - Baltic States

KW - ethnography

KW - witchcraft

M3 - Paper

Y2 - 20 April 2002 through 22 April 2002

ER -

Latvian–Azande Parallel: Corruption as Witchcraft for Latvia during the Transition

Abstract

Conference

Keywords*

Field of Science*

Publication Type*

Access to Document

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Cite this