Suchergebnisse

Ambivalent Europeans examines the implications of living on the fringes of Europe. In Malta, public debate is dominated by the question of Europe, both at a policy level - whether or not to join the EU - and at the level of national identity - whether or not the Maltese are 'European'. Jon Mitchell identifies a profound ambivalence towards Europe, and also more broadly to the key processes of 'modernisation'. He traces this tendency through a number of key areas of social life - gender, the family, community, politics, religion and ritual

For good reasons, anthropology some decades ago deconstructed the Mediterraneanist picture of familialist societies in the South. However, this deconstruction unexpectedly had its political twin in Malta's fight against corruption to meet the conditions for EU-membership in 2004. Drawing on a deeper concept of "territoriality", introduced by anthropologist Ina-Maria Greverus, the article considers lately observed new variants of nationalist positions that paradoxically are deeply entwined with clientelistic dynamics against the state, culminating in the recent murder of critical journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

This article raises important questions concerning the deployment of stereotypes about traditional & modern political practices by the Maltese people. These stereotypes are often used to make claims against politicians & the state, reflecting various understandings of what the state (or government) is & does. For the Maltese, reform & modernization are often seen as positive developments. However, they are also fraught with risk, as clientelistic practices & systems of patronage are what make Malta's political system functional. Considering these issues through an anthropological lens, the article exposes an inherent tension in Malta -- between the traditionalists & modernizers, that is, between those who wish to see Malta 'moving forward' via a process of Europeanization, & those who prefer to cling to Maltese ways of doing things. 41 References. Adapted from the source document.