Corruption in the Ottoman Polity: Empirical Insights, Conceptual Reflections

This book features essays that explore corruption and its manifestations in the Ottoman Empire through social, political, economic, legal and discursive approaches. Its main goal is to contextualise the notion and investigate its meanings, conceptual parallels and associated behaviour via a nuanced historical framework. Combining theoretical analysis with detailed case studies, the volume also examines various corruption-related crimes and how they were regulated in the Ottoman polity across the early modern and modern periods. Bringing together established and emerging Ottoman scholars, the collection advances the field by considering contrasting perspectives on the topic. The book’s scope extends beyond the Ottoman Empire to include comparative perspectives from other historical settings, such as Mamluk Egypt and Qing China, offering readers a broader understanding of how different polities defined and confronted corruption.