The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

jp 5 ny

David Wästerfors

Professor

jp 5 ny

Struggling for One's Name: Defense Narratives by those Accused of Small-Time Corruption

Author

  • Malin Åkerström
  • David Wästerfors
  • Katarina Jacobsson

Summary, in English

Under scrutiny (what we term a “bribery gaze”), many interpersonal exchanges in work contexts are perceived as bribes rather than gifts, tokens of appreciation, or mundane favors. Current Swedish bribery laws are strong, and the media keep a vigilant eye out for suspicious activities. From a wide set of qualitative data, we selected 13 interviews with formally-accused middle managers and low-level officials in Sweden who claimed to be innocent of small corruption. We discovered that they were more concerned with defending their honor than with job losses, material losses, or legal repercussions. The interviewees used a contrast structure: While they defined the humiliating accusations and disproportionate measures as turning points, they narrated their moral struggles and claimed their innocence by retelling significant events. These personal narratives from those accused of corruption showed that honor remains very important in contemporary society.

Department/s

  • Sociology
  • School of Social Work

Publishing year

2016

Language

English

Pages

148-162

Publication/Series

Sociological Focus

Volume

49

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Routledge

Topic

  • Sociology

Keywords

  • Honor
  • Corruption
  • Accusation
  • Narratives
  • Defense

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0038-0237