Uncertainty, corruption and the boundaries of agency in the medicalised world from the perspective of the theory of power of Michel Crozier and Erhard Friedberg

Maciej Gurtowski

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Institute of Sociology

Abstract

This paper begins with the conceptualization of corruption from the perspective of the theory of power of Michel Crozier and Erhard Friedberg. It is assumed that both power and corruption depends on the level of uncertainty that one is able to manage and control. Medicalisation is defined as a process of expanding the limits of applicability of medicine on further areas of social life. A medicine increases its level of control of uncertainty in social world thereby decreasing a level of individual patient’s agency. Corruption is thus considered as a means of reduction of the level of uncertainty as a patient is not able to influence this uncertainty by other means.

Keywords:

uncertainty, corruption, borders, medicalization