Defining Corruption in the Ottoman Empire - Morality, Legality, and Abuse of Power in Premodern Governance

This book explores how premodern Ottomans characterised public office corruption and what specific transgressions they associated with this notion before the nineteenth century. It identifies articulations of self-interested abuses of power in this context and illustrates how they resonate in some ways with modern perspectives.

List of contents

• Glossary


• A Note on Transliteration


• Introduction Conceptual Reflections


• 1: Corruption Based on Pre-Ottoman Jurisprudential Sources


• 2: Corruption in Ottoman Jurisprudence


• 3: Abuse and Predation in State Documents


• 4: Controlling Corruption


• 5: Corruption in Ottoman Political Literature


• 6: Corruption According to Accounts for Foreigners


• 7: Gifts as Bribes


• 8: On the Morality of Patronage: The Case of Ilmiye


• Conclusion: Possible Rationalizations of Corruption and Other Afterthoughts


• References


• Index

About the author

Böaç A. Ergene specializes in Ottoman social, economic, and legal history. He is the author, co-author, or editor of five books, including The Economics of Ottoman Justice (Cambridge U.P, 2016; with Metin Cögel) and Halal Food: A History (Oxford U.P, 2018; with Febe Armanios). He has also published numerous articles on various aspects of Ottoman history in major academic journals. Professor Ergene teaches Islamic and Middle Eastern history at the University of Vermont in the United States.

Summary

This book explores how premodern Ottomans characterised public office corruption and what specific transgressions they associated with this notion before the nineteenth century. It identifies articulations of self-interested abuses of power in this context and illustrates how they resonate in some ways with modern perspectives.

Product details

• Authors: Boğaç A. Ergene, Boğac A. (Professor of History Ergene, Boğaç A. Ergene, Bogac A. (Professor of History Ergene
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 09.05.2024
• EAN: 9780198916215
• ISBN: 978-0-19-891621-5
• No. of pages: 352
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Miscellaneous; Ottoman Empire, HISTORY / Middle East / Turkey & Ottoman Empire, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Corruption & Misconduct, Political corruption, 17th century, c 1600 to c 1699, Middle Eastern history, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, 16th century, c 1500 to c 1599, c 1500 to c 1600, C 1600 To C 1700, Corruption in politics, government and society