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Traversing political economy and the household: An ethnographic analysis of life after communism in Kojsov, a rural village in eastern Slovakia Item Type text; Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Acheson, Julianna, 1965- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 08/10/2021 01:46:14 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/282421 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text dnvctfy fix)m the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter while others may be fix)m any type of computer printer. 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Ifigher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI ABdl & Etowell bifiniiiation Conqtai^ 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Aibor MI 48106-1346 USA 313^61-4700 800/521-0600 TRAVERSING POLITICAL ECONOMY AND THE HOUSEHOLD: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF LIFE AFTER COMMUNISM IN KO JSOV, A RURAL VILLAGE IN EASTERN SLOVAKIA by Julianna Acheson A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 19 9 7 UMX Ntmber: 9806805 UMI Microform 9806805 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. Ail rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 2 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA « GRADUATE COLLEGE As members of the Final Examination Committee, we certify that we have read the dissertation prepared by Julianna Acheson entitled Traversing Political Economy and the Household; An Ethnographic Analysis of Life after Communism in Kojsov, A Rural Village in Eastern Slovakia and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Thomas K. Park, chair Date -"i—- ^ / ? 7 Ri«tvard A. Thompson Date (o-ll s B. Greenberg Date Date Date Final approval and acceptance of this dissertation is contingent upon the candidate's submission of the final copy of the dissertation to the Graduate College. I hereby certify that I have read this dissertation prepared under my direction and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the dissertation requirement. K- Co-Zl- Dissertation Director Thomas K. Park Date 3 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This dissertation has been submittedin partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Libraiy to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this dissertations are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate Collie when in his or her judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am greatly indebted to many for their assistance and support in the research and write-up of this dissertation. I would first like to thank Tana Petrovova and Vladii^ Smiesko for Iheir help in the initial stages of this research. At the Ethnology bistitute in Bratislava my research was welcomed by Michael and VieraKalavsky, DusanRatica, andG^iKilianova. Andrea GrifBn and the family Ondercanin helped with living arrangements during my initial stay in Slovalda. Marta and Jan Botikova assisted me in understanding the Slovak family and issues of ethnidly in Kojsov. I am also grateful to Martin Votruba for teaching me Slovak at the University of Pittsburgh. IREX supported this language acquisition. Without the people of Kojsov, in particular Andrej and Anna Petrov, their warmth, openness, and hospitality, this project would have been impossible. My relatives in Kosice were very helpful around the time of the biiih of my dau^ter. I will alwa}^ remember their kindness. During the write-up phase of this project many came to my aid. Jim Inverarity and the Sociology Department at Western Washington University were very supportive. I also wish to acknowledge Bob Marshall and the Anthropology Department at Western Washington University for giving me the opportunity to teach while I wrote. Joe Amett and Vierka and Vlado Matuska aided me in plant identification. Jim Field helped with mushroom identification. Janine Shaw read off data to me when all else had given up. I am also grateful to all those in my extended bilateral kin esped^y my father James Acheson for his advice, as well as Ann Acheson for help with kinship charts and methodology in the field. My mother Carolyn BeUerose never gave up on my long project. My grandmother Mary L. Acheson and her sister Ann Petrov were especially help^ for their many years of correspondence. At the University of Arizona I am thankful for the help and advise of Richard Thompson, Jim Greenberg, Helen and Dick Henderson, the late Bob Netting, Ellen Basso, Jane Hill, ^ce Schlegel, and especially Tad Park, my advisor. I also thank Laura Stuckey and T^aSandblom. Janet Pollack was a source of support and inspiration for my work in Slovakia. My colleagues were great assistance in this endeavor as weU. I wish to thank Ann Bennett, Alex Brewis, Liz Cartwiright, Steve Ferzacca, HaUey Freitas, Deborah House, Jan Newberry, Brooke Olsen, Er^e Olsen, Helen Bobbins, Andrea Smith, Ed. Sn£y dr, Chris Svec and Katheline Vi^lliamson. I am eternally indebted to my husband and dear fiiend John Field and my daughter Hannah Joy for their patience and f\m during this liminnl state of my life. I dedicate this dissertation to them both. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. LIST OF FIGURES 8 2. LIST OF TABLES 9 3. ABSTRACT 10 4. CHAPTER ONE 13 4.1 bitroductioii 13 4.2 Contextualizing the Research 15 4.3 Why the Household? 19 4.4 Kojsov~A Physical Description 23 4.5 Dissertation Outline 29 5. CHAPTER TWO: A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN RETURN MIGRATION: FIELDWORKIN SLOVAKIA 32 5.1 Introduction 32 5.2 Return Migration 34 5.3 Slovak Ethology—iMzroctopis 44 5.4 Conclusions 53 6. CHAPTER THREE: METHODS 55 6.1 Introduction 55 6.2 Learning Slovak 56 6.3 Pilot Study 58 6.4 Participant Observation...The First Few Months 60 6.5 Participant Observation...The Birth 63 6.6 Participant Observation..Jiiovlng to the Village 68 6.7 Establishing Rapport 70 6.8 The Survey 71 6.9 The Population 75 6.10 Representativeness 78 6.11 Problems in the Field 81 6.12 Conclusions 84 7. CHAPTER FOUR: KOJSOV AND A CENTURY OF CHANGE 87 7.1 Introduction 87 7.2 1948-1918 94 7.3 The First Slovak Repiiblic 97 7.4 The Second World War 100 7.5 1948-1968--The Emergence of Socialism 104 7.6 1969-1989—Normalization Ill 7.7 1989-1993~The Velvet Revolution 118 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS CX>NT. 7.8 1993-Preseiit Independent Slovakia 123 7.9 Conclusions 127 8. CHAPTER FIVE: SUNDAY DINNER WITH THE KOVAC'S: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF THE HOUSEHOLD 128 8.1 Litroduction 128 8.2 Sunday Church Service 129 8.3 The Ethnography of Dinner 131 8.4 Conclusions 155 9. CHAPTER SIX HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION 157 9.1 Introduction 157 9.2 The Household as an Analytic Category 158 9.3 Households in Kojsov 162 9.4 Four Types of Households in Kojsov 169 9.5 The Extended Family as a Household Tjrpe 172 9.6 The Elderly Retired Household 174 9.7 Households from Town 176 9.8 Vacationers in Kojsov 179 9.9 Conclusions 180 10. CHAPTER SEVEN: HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTION 183 10.1 Introduction 183 10.2 The Sexual Division of Labor 184 10.3 Grardening 187 10.4 Subsidizing the Garden 193 10.5 Gardening by Household Type 196 10.6 Animal Husbandry 202 10.7 Gathering Activity 206 10.8 Discussion 208 10.9 Conclusions 212 11. CHAPTER EIGHT: "WE HAVENT EATEN FRIED CHEESE SINCE THE REVOLUTION": HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION 214 11.1 Introduction 214 11.2 Increase in the Price of Groceries: A List of Household 216 11.3 Comparison of a Fixed Basket of Consumer Goods 219 11.4 Strategies for Coping with a Decrease in BiQingPowCT 221 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONT. 11.5 Conclusioiis 225 12. CHAPTER NINE: REPRIVATIZING LAND IN KOJSOV 230 12.1 "The Tallest Blade of Grass is the First to be Cut" 230 12.2 Reprivatizatiaii 232 12.3 An Overview of Land Reform in Slovakia 233 12.4 The Privatization Campaign in Spis 237 12.5 Interview #I 246 12.6 Interview #2 253 12.7 Laterview#3 261 12.8 Interview #4 269 12.9 Conclusions 273 13.