The Insiders and the Outsiders: Standardization and ‘Failed’ Person-Making in a Lithuanian Market Place

Abstract

Since Lithuania gained membership of the European Union in 2004, the country has been subjected to EU product control and food processing standards. This article discusses the effects and outcome of the intensified food control through the example of a market place, which is characterized by a spatial division between legal and illegal sale of dairy products. The women who submit to EU standards and requirements (‘the Insiders’) are placed inside the market hall, whereas women engaged in the sale of uncontrolled products (‘the Outsiders’) stand outside the bounds of the market. The limitations of the law in practice are related to what has been referred to as a person-making through standard-making (Dunn 2005). According to Dunn the imposition of standards is meant to make a self-controlled subject who internalizes the values and standards set forth by the EU. In this article it is suggested that it is the EU´s incapability to create such persons which lead to the lack of obedience to law by the Outsiders, and occasionally by the Insiders. Legal sale is only practiced at certain times, in certain spaces and only by people who have the resources in terms of money and knowledge to adhere to EU law. A change of situation at home can lead previous legal salespeople outside the bounds of the market. It is further suggested that as long as the customers equally are not ‘made’ into EU-consumers, they will continue to pursue illegal and ‘traditional’ products outside the market, which further promotes the opportunities for illegal sale.