Translations of Concepts over Time: What Criteria Decide about the Appropriateness of a Translation? CANCELLED

About children's literature it has been amply discussed whether certain terms or plots of classics are to be changed in new editions in order to comply with a notion of political correctness. To what extent is something similar taking place in social science literature?

Translating Lewis Coser's Greedy Institutions (1974) into the 21^st century provides an example for the difficulties of relating a theory to contemporary phenomena.

Between the 1950s and 1970s Coser discussed various forms of Greedy Institutions with their total claim on the individual. Greedy Institutions demand undivided time and loyalty from the individual who will voluntarily devote him/herself for exclusive benefits granted to loyal followers only. Although the ancient authorities have vanished – princes with their court Jews, masters with their servants, or religious and political missionaries – the concept is far from obsolete today.  Management consultants, 24/7 old age carers from Eastern Europe and particularly the hive mind of the New Social Media show that a revival of Coser’s theory can help understand power relations governing today's individuals. Consequently this justifies a German translation of Coser's work, particularly since it has hardly been received in the German speaking world.

Whether shifting the context from Coser's original examples of court Jews and eunuchs in Byzantium is accepted within the scientific community as appropriate, is not a question of mere plausibility. While e.g. the proposition that internet based Social Media act similar to religious or political sects received wide approval, depicting spin doctors or management consultants as present day equivalent of the court Jews is seen critical.

Thus, translation also requires an effort of cultural sensitivity to the political culture. This eventually determines how the scientific community is going to receive the translated work.