ISBN:
9780387959603
,
9780387959597
Language:
English
Pages:
Online-Ressource (digital)
Series Statement:
SpringerLink
Series Statement:
Bücher
Parallel Title:
Buchausg. u.d.T. Siegel, Dina, 1962 - The Mazzel ritual
Keywords:
Social sciences
;
Anthropology
;
Criminology
;
Social Sciences
;
Anthropology
;
Criminology
;
Social sciences
;
Diamantenindustrie
;
Diamantenhandel
;
Kriminalität
;
Geschichte
Abstract:
The academic study of diamonds is as multi-faceted as the precious stones themselves. Mineralogists and geographers have written about them, as have historians and economists and students of art and fashion. They each shine their light on a different aspect of this source of luminous radiance. But who would venture to describe the entire complicated worldwide system starting in the diamond mines and ending with the consumers of Western metropolises? In The Mazzel Ritual: Culture, Customs and Crime in the Diamond Trade, Russian-Israeli cultural anthropologist and criminologist Dina Siegel follows the route of a diamond from the mines of Africa to the shops of Europe and the United States, as it passes through countless hands and places and is smuggled, stolen, cut, polished, sold, exchanged and, finally, worn as jewelry. In the course of this long and exciting journey, a wide range of people face all sorts of risks and criminality, as well as various moral and ethical judgments. Siegel describes the range of ethnic groups that are active in the diamond trade and the culture and customs that are specific to this business. She analyses the dangers and threats to the industry and aims to uncover the strategies and tactics to deal with them. Finally, this story of risk, trust and crime examines the vulnerability of diamond production and distribution to illicit and criminal activities. This book is about the diamond business itself as well as about those involved in it. It tells the story of people who simply cannot stay away from this expensive and alluring commodity.
Description / Table of Contents:
Preface; Acknowledgements; Contents; List of Illustrations; List of Abbreviations; Introduction; About This Book; 1 Theory and Research: An Anthropological Journey into the Diamond Industry; Multisite Anthropology; Access; Breaking Taboos About Jews, the Mafia, and Other Dangers of Fieldwork; Cultural Criminology and Semi-Autonomous Social Fields; 2 From Marco Polo to the Syndicate: The History of a Multilevel Organisation; Historical Development of the Diamond Business; The Development of the Diamond Organisation in Europe; Diamond Pipeline Structure and Organisation
Description / Table of Contents:
Production Countries Control and CriminalisationDistribution of Rough Diamonds Marketing Methods; Processing Centres; Banks and Bourses; Not Without the Syndicate; Control and Mobility; Illegal Activities of De Beers; An Old Monopoly in a New World; 3 The King of Gems: How the Diamond Became the Most Precious Stone; Legends and Symbols; The Value of a Rare Stone; Smuggling for Survival and Emigration; Romantics or Business? Consumerism in Postmodern Times; Women and Diamonds; Organisation of Preservation of the Value of Diamonds by the Diamond Industry
Description / Table of Contents:
4 The Mazzel Ritual: Trust, Loyalty, Risk, and the Culture of the Diamond TradeThe Culture of the Diamond Trade; Trust and Loyalty; Noncontractual Agreements; Risks for Trust; Trust and Lies; Semi-Autonomous Legal Field and Community of Ethnic Middlemen; Business Disputes and Extralegal Solutions; The Case of GIA; 5 Jews, Indians, and Arabs: On Diamond Markets and Traders; Creation of Diamond Markets; Diamond Market of Antwerp; Jewish Diamond Dealers of Antwerp; Historical Background; Jewish Antwerp Today; Jewish Diamond Market; Indian Diamond Dealers in Antwerp
Description / Table of Contents:
The Indian Community and Indian Market in AntwerpThe Multiethnic Diamond Market of Antwerp; Ethnic Elections; The Case of Israel; The Worlds No.1 Exporter Ramat Gan, the Diamond Capital?; History of Diamantairs in Palestine and Israel; Israelis Are Everywhere; The Diamond Market and Community in Israel; The Case of Dubai; The Indian Community and the Indian Diamond Market of Dubai; Jewish Diamond Traders in Dubai?; 6 Threats to the Industry: Rivals from Within, International Competition, and Synthetic Diamonds; The New Cartel? Challenge to De Beers
Description / Table of Contents:
Ole Hadash Hebrew for new immigrant. from TashkentDe Beers and the Russian Bears; The Russian Adventure; Argyle, PHB Billiton, and Others . . .; Synthetic Diamonds Another Rival?; 7 Conflict Diamonds? Not Every Diamond Is a Blood Diamond; Diamonds as a Public Problem and Moral Panic; The Role of the NGOs; The Escalation of the Problem and the Reaction of the Diamond Industry; Kimberley Process The Success Story of the Global Solution for a Local Problem?; Critics and Doubters; Diamond Wars or War Against Diamonds and the Diamond Industry?; Certificates for All!
Description / Table of Contents:
How to Control the Uncontrollable
Note:
Includes bibliographical references and index
DOI:
10.1007/978-0-387-95960-3
URL:
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