Routledge Corruption and the Secret of Law: A Legal Anthropological Perspective (Law, Justice and Power)

This volume presents an anthropological perspective on the hidden continuities between corruption and law. The authors argue that the two opposites, corruption and law, are inextricably linked - with the possibility of the former already inscribed into the latter. Taking a critical stance towards the normative good governance agenda spearheaded by institutions such as Transparency International and the World Bank, this volume argues that by uncritically depicting corruption as an absolute evil, these anti-corruption programs disregard the close relationship that exists between corruption and state power. Addressing various aspects of a complex and ambivalent phenomenon, Corruption and the Secret of Law draws on studies from different parts of the world including Burundi, China, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico and the USA and provides a valuable resource for students, researchers and policy-makers working in this area. Review 'Through rich ethnographic studies, this groundbreaking volume considers new ways to think and theorise about "corruption", the law and (im)morality. It will redefine and productively reshape what we think we know about "corruption" in our world today.' Todd Sanders, University of Toronto, Canada 'This volume represents a theoretically sophisticated and ethnographically well-grounded exploration of the vernacular meanings of practices that may be termed "corrupt". The book shows that corruption is the obscene underside of the law, and that the moral outrage which corruption generates reflect a desire for "the law" to be more real and firm.' Thomas Blom Hansen, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands About the Author Monique Nuijten, Associate Professor, Rural Development Sociology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands and Gerhard Anders, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Social Anthropology, University of Zurich, Switzerland.