The threat of the thief: who has normative Influence in Georgian society?

Slade, G. (2007) The threat of the thief: who has normative Influence in Georgian society? Global Crime, 8(2), pp. 172-179. (doi: 10.1080/17440570701362398)

Abstract

This piece gives an account of the Georgian government's recent attempts to crackdown on the institution of thieves-in-law [vory-v-zakone] within Georgian society. The events surrounding the problematisation of the thieves-in-law are examined and different answers are offered to the underlying question of the article: what threat does this subversive group pose to the government? It is argued that the vory do not represent a potential criminal revolution but are victims of a resurgent state producing a politics of law that seeks to stamp out subverting influences within society. The thieves' world represents an alternative moral order which is attractive in a country which suffers from acute alienated statehood. Thus the fight against the vory should be understood as a battle to win back the hearts of the Georgian people for the state and for the law.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Slade, Dr Gavin
• Authors: Slade, G.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Central and East European Studies
• Journal Name: Global Crime
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis (Routledge)
• ISSN: 1744-0572
• ISSN (Online): 1744-0580