The interpretation of Andrić's doctoral dissertation through the theory of historical institutionalism

Abstract

Andrić's doctoral dissertation, titled "Development of spiritual life in Bosnia under the influence of Turkish rule," has so far initiated many discussions, mostly criticism of the methodology used by Andrić in this dissertation, but also many criticisms related to challenging the scientific character of the dissertation itself. In this paper, the author focuses on a completely different segment of Andrić's dissertation, which previous analyses and critiques of Andrić's dissertation have not covered. The problem of corruption in the Ottoman Empire shall be the subject of the analysis, and certainly the problem of corruption in Bosnia as part of the Ottoman Empire. The paper analyses the scientific basis of Andrić's claims in the dissertation on the ubiquity of corruption in the Ottoman Empire, and the possible impact of the corruption of Ottoman institutions on the development of institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The author explains the importance of Andrić's dissertation for a better understanding of the problem of corruption in the functioning of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the theory of historical institutionalism.

Keywords

• ivo andrić
• corruption
• ottoman empire
• historical institutionalism
• the rule of law