For hundreds of years, household liquor production has served as a crucial livelihood strategy (and a deeply meaningful cultural practice) for rural communities worldwide, and it has also been a target of repression and criminalization by the state. This presentation explores the parallels between Appalachian moonshine and Romanian țuică, and the changing role of traditional liquor in modern rural livelihoods. Dr. Peine will discuss her methodological approach to these questions, and will engage the audience in a lively discussion about the traditions of making, sharing, and drinking tuica in the region of Cluj-Napoca.
Guest lecturer: Emelie K. Peine is professor and director of the International Political Economy Program at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, USA. Her research and teaching focuses on the political economy of rural communities in the 21st century. Her current research project examines household alcohol production as a tool of economic, social, and cultural reproduction in rural areas around the world. She is currently conducting fieldwork in Romania, India, and Brazil with the support of a Lantz Senior Research Fellowship from the University of Puget Sound and Senior Professional Development Fellowship from the American Institute for Indian Studies.
