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Twisted Transfers as Corruption

  • Filippo Carlà-Uhink
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Corruption in the Graeco-Roman World
This chapter is in the book Corruption in the Graeco-Roman World

Abstract

Corruption is an elusive concept, in which legal and juridical aspects coexist with a moral evaluation, and which is generally deployed in othering and character assassination. This chapter, an introduction to the volume, argues that historical research on corruption should not only concentrate on investigating political corruption and anti-corruption measures, but also focus on how corruption is constructed and represented in discourse. Starting from a definition of corruption as ‘twisted transfers’, this chapter analyses as a case study Cicero’s trial speeches to show how ‘corruption’ is presented, used and ‘functionalized’ - and questions whether the abundant references to corruption in the late republic should be understood as signs of widespread corrupt practices.

Abstract

Corruption is an elusive concept, in which legal and juridical aspects coexist with a moral evaluation, and which is generally deployed in othering and character assassination. This chapter, an introduction to the volume, argues that historical research on corruption should not only concentrate on investigating political corruption and anti-corruption measures, but also focus on how corruption is constructed and represented in discourse. Starting from a definition of corruption as ‘twisted transfers’, this chapter analyses as a case study Cicero’s trial speeches to show how ‘corruption’ is presented, used and ‘functionalized’ - and questions whether the abundant references to corruption in the late republic should be understood as signs of widespread corrupt practices.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface VII
  4. Part 1: The Discourse(s) of and on Corruption
  5. Twisted Transfers as Corruption 1
  6. The Corrupted Speak 47
  7. Civil War and the Corruption of liberalitas in Tacitus’ Histories 65
  8. Irreversible Corruption 83
  9. Part 2: Corruption in Social Practice and Daily Life
  10. Creating Evidence for Corruption 111
  11. Corruption in Greco-Roman Egypt 129
  12. Ideas of Corruption in Roman Imperial Ports 145
  13. Suspect Inheritances 167
  14. Salvian and the Corrupted Church of Southern Gaul 199
  15. Part 3: The Politics and Diplomacy of Corruption
  16. Corruption and Anti-Corruption 223
  17. Beyond Crime 257
  18. Usurpation of (and Corruption Involving) the Right of Roman Citizenship in the Republic 287
  19. Balkan Promises 307
  20. Index 335
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111339962-002

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. Preface VII
  4. Part 1: The Discourse(s) of and on Corruption
  5. Twisted Transfers as Corruption 1
  6. The Corrupted Speak 47
  7. Civil War and the Corruption of liberalitas in Tacitus’ Histories 65
  8. Irreversible Corruption 83
  9. Part 2: Corruption in Social Practice and Daily Life
  10. Creating Evidence for Corruption 111
  11. Corruption in Greco-Roman Egypt 129
  12. Ideas of Corruption in Roman Imperial Ports 145
  13. Suspect Inheritances 167
  14. Salvian and the Corrupted Church of Southern Gaul 199
  15. Part 3: The Politics and Diplomacy of Corruption
  16. Corruption and Anti-Corruption 223
  17. Beyond Crime 257
  18. Usurpation of (and Corruption Involving) the Right of Roman Citizenship in the Republic 287
  19. Balkan Promises 307
  20. Index 335
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