Doctoral Dissertation Research: An Ethnography of Indebtedness: The Emergence of Credit Card Use in Greece

【摘要】莱斯大学文化人类学专业学生的论文研究将研究希腊信用卡的社会文化生活。近年来，银行卡的使用急剧增加，这与欧盟一体化有关。通过对雅典三个不同社区的民族志研究，从工人阶级到上层阶级，学生将学习信用卡如何被解释为象征“现代性”的文化对象，并分析信用卡对那些使用它们的人以及那些被排除在外的人的影响。负债的传统文化意义将随着非个人信用的新流行而发展和变化。将研究消费、债务、地位和社会流动性的问题，以及与欧盟一体化有关的希腊社会的一般变化。方法将包括参与者观察和对来自三个社区的约100名受访者的正式访谈，以及对30名受访者（每个社区10名）的小样本进行密集和重复访谈的后续跟进，采访银行家，并分析有关信用卡行业的文章、记录和文件。这项研究将促进我们对这种无处不在的金融工具如何融入不断变化的传统社会的理解，而这一新知识将帮助我们理解信用卡在我们自己的社会中的使用。该项目还增加了对年轻社会科学家的培训，并增加了我们对世界这一重要地区的了解。

Abstract0108704Georges / PlacasThis dissertation research by a cultural anthropology student from Rice University will study the social and cultural life of credit cards in Greece. The use of cards has increased dramatically in recent years, related to European Union integration. Through an ethnographic study in three distinct neighborhoods of Athens, from working class to upper class, the student will study how credit cards have been interpreted as cultural objects signifying "modernity" and will analyze the impact of the cards on those who use them as well as those who are excluded form using them. The traditional cultural meaning of indebtedness will be studied as it has developed and changed in light of the new prevalence of impersonal credit. Concerns with consumption, debt, status, and social mobility will be studied as well as general changes in Greek society affiliated with EU integration. Methods will include participant observation and a formal interview of about 100 respondents drawn from the three neighborhoods, as well as follow up intensive and repeated interviews with a small subsample of 30 respondents (10 from each neighborhood), interviews with bankers, and analysis of articles, records and documents on the credit card industry. This research will advance our understanding of how this ubiquitous financial instrument is being incorporated into a changing traditional society, and this new knowledge will help us understand the use of credit cards in our own society. The project also adds to the training of a young social scientist and increases our knowledge about this important region of the world.