Forms of corruption in Serbia in the nineteenth century

Abstract

The paper is a continuation of the story on corruption in Serbia and its goal is to give an overview of the forms of corruption in the history of Serbia as an independent state (1804-1918). The process of developing modern state institutions in the nineteenth-century Serbia did not always run smoothly for the simple reason that the path of modernization of Serbia was hindered by fossilised patterns of patriarchal Serbian society, reluctant to give way to new socio-economic relations. The situation was additionally burdened by two greatest evils inherited from the Ottoman rule - bribery and corruption, which were readily accepted both in the newly established state after the First Serbian Uprising and at the time of the foundation of the Principality of Serbia. Milos Obrenovic gained absolute power during his first and second rule and corruption inevitably followed as a consequence. In theory, there is almost universal agreement that Prince Milos managed to achieve more by bribery than by wars. However, later rules of Serbia were no strangers to abuse of power either. Thus there is a record of Prince Aleksandar Karađorđevic having been described as 'the greatest patron of serious abuse' at St. Andrew's Day Assembly in 1858.