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- Convenors:
-
Malgorzata Rajtar
(Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Polish Academy of Sciences)
Anika Keinz
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- Format:
- Workshops
- Location:
- 426
- Sessions:
- Wednesday 27 August, -, -
Time zone: Europe/Ljubljana
Short Abstract:
This workshop intends to examine ethnographic and anthropological encounters with trust and discourses of trust in post-socialist societies, as well as ethical dilemmas and emotions they raise.
Long Abstract:
In the last two decades the concept of trust has become one of the major themes in sociology. A considerable amount of sociological theories have been formulated and numerous research studies have been conducted, all dealing with the issue of trust.
While sociologists' approaches to trust tend to be increasingly culture-oriented, in anthropology, the concept is still rather neglected. Although trust is literally at the core of ethnographic fieldwork being the first relationship an ethnographer has to build with his/her informants, it tends to be taken for granted. Correspondingly, a more detailed anthropological elaboration of the term is one aim of this workshop.
Another aim of the panel is to direct our anthropological gaze at the notion of trust, primarily its place and meaning in contemporary non-homogeneous cultures. In the diverse and changing world the rhetoric of trust is used by different political, religious and social actors to suit their often contradictory goals. This is particularly the case in post-socialist countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Ideologies of trust are produced by institutions, but are also appealing to people in order to redefine social relations, economic goals and political bonds.
We invite papers that approach the concept of trust from a variety of perspectives. These include but are not limited to those that problematise notions and discourses of trust in regard to their religious, ethical or political ideologies; those that examine notions of trust in the restructuring of the economy in post-socialist societies; and those that problematise notions of trust methodologically.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Wednesday 27 August, 2008, -Agnieszka Koscianska (University of Warsaw)
Paper short abstract:
Drawing on fieldwork among participants of an informal group representing a fundamentalist wing in the Polish Roman Catholic Church, this paper explores a distrust of state institutions (e.g., the public heath system), and focuses on anti-liberal models of agency.
Paper long abstract:
In Poland, older religious Catholic women often meet informally to pray, to chat and to help each other. They have visions of the Virgin Mary or experience the presence of the Holy Spirit. They have healing skills and believe in the power of prayers to affect change. At the same time, they share a deep distrust of various modern institutions, such as those associated with the public health system, the welfare system, mass media, and organisations associated with feminism and the women's rights movement. They see these institutions as promoting liberal and individualistic models of agency, which they see as a threat to Polish national community and the Roman Catholic Church.
The paper discuses the ways in which my informants deal with those fears. I focus on alternative healing practices and channels of communication, and anti-abortion mobilization to analyse models of agency and personhood developed due to this distrust. These models of agency and personhood are reflected in the personal narratives of the elder religious women I interviewed, and parallel developments in political and public domains, such as the Catholic fundamentalist radio station Radio Maryja.
Elena Sischarenco (University of Fribourg)
Paper short abstract:
This paper examines the community of Polish women working in the private care sector in Italy. In particular it explores their relationships with women from their own country, with Italians and with the Italian Institutions. This paper underlines the fundamental use of informal relations and the role of trust in both their experience in migrating and their life in Italy.
Paper long abstract:
The purpose of the research is to analyse in depth the relations established by Polish women both in Italy and in Poland, both before and during their experience of migration, with the aim of understanding the importance of these relations and of trust. A survey and qualitative ethnographic methods were employed.
With regard to the importance of trust in the post-socialist societies it is important to observe that the informal relations created to search for a job in Italy are first established in Poland. Only in few exceptional cases do Polish women arrive in Italy without a job.
The situation of instability already present in their original society and due to the post-socialist period added to an other situation of instability: the migratory experience, increases the general level of mistrust of these women. This mistrust cannot lead to an absence of social relations, especially considering their situation of need. In fact it brings to a particular attention to the relationships they establish and an increase of the importance of the role of trust in every aspect of their life.
There is an extensive use of informal relations in every aspect of the migrants' working and social experience in Italy, even as far as their approaches to the Italian Institutions are concerned.
Alexandra Schwell (University of Klagenfurt)
Paper short abstract:
The discussion on the Schengen enlargement is closely tied to issues of trust and mistrust towards Eastern Europe. The paper will scrutinize how these concepts are instrumentalized and securitized by various actors in Germany and Austria.
Paper long abstract:
Trust and confidence are the basis of all functioning social relationships. It is one of the foremost tasks of the EU to foster mutual trust across its borders, in order to develop a European feeling of belonging (identity) and thus strengthen legitimacy. Trust is always reciprocal: it depends on mutual confidence and the expectancy that the leap of faith will be rewarded. This trust, on which the European Union to a large degree is built, is still rather fragile between Western and Eastern Europe.
The enlargement of the Schengen area by the end of 2007 has once again emphasized not only the importance and meaning of trust/mistrust, but also of the ways these concepts can be instrumentalized and securitized. Mistrust always entails fear, insecurity and thus a negative image of the "Other", who cannot be trusted. Hence while some actors promote freedom of movement and a united Europe, others stoke fears of organized crime and consider the new member states not trustworthy.
Drawing on German and Austrian media coverage and political discourse I will scrutinize, how trust/mistrust towards Eastern Europe is exploited by different actors, which aims actors pursue when invoking images related to trust/mistrust, and finally how this discourse affects the idea of Europe as the "ever closer Union".
Lynette Sikic Micanovic (Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences)
Paper short abstract:
Drawing on fieldwork among the Roma populations in Croatia, this paper explores different experiences of trust and distrust.
Paper long abstract:
Accessing research participants, developing relationships of trust with them and acquiring quality data that reflect ‘truths’ are major issues for field researchers. Undeniably, trust is the foundation for acquiring the fullest, most accurate disclosure while distrust has damaging implications in any research project. Drawing on fieldwork among the Roma populations in Croatia, this paper explores different experiences of trust and distrust. Specifically, in this paper, I pay attention to how I attempted to gain participants’ trust and how my identity in many instances provided a basis for trust and openness during fieldwork. In addition, the experience of particular issues and dilemmas while attempting to balance the trust relationship with research participants are discussed. These include issues of informed consent, privacy, harm, exploitation, power relations, confidentiality, and deception.