Anthropological, Ethnopsychological and Characterological Studies on Corruption in Serbia

Abstract

The paper examines the views and approaches of anthropologists, ethnopsychologists and characterologists Jovan Cvijić and Vladimir Dvorniković from the beginning of the 20th century, as well as Bojan Jovanović and Žarko Trebješanin from the end of the 20th century. Their views and research of the causes, reasons and motives why the inhabitants of Serbia have accepted and participated in corruptive activities are significant and valuable for contemporary research of corruption. In their opinion, the causes are related to the dark side of human nature, particularly, greed, due to which bad features in the characters have become pronounced. These features are: subjugation, furtiveness, distrust, treachery and dishonesty. The reasons have derived from unfavourable living circumstances such as slavery and poverty. The motive is related to the fulfilment of needs and interests without choosing means for survival and/or persistence. By accepting corruption as a way of surviving, with the passage of time, a pattern of corruptive behaviour has been created. The pattern is of profound nature and long-lasting. Even today it still pressurizes people in modern Serbia. The pattern particularly emerges at the moments of thorough changes in the political order and social crises. The paper is aimed at analyzing the research by the above-listed authors to use the results as a basis for getting more comprehensive insights into the origin, structure, forms and development of corruption in modern Serbia.