Priesthood without an altar: the central bank as an institution of faith

This article examines the evolution of central banking through the lens of Juliet Johnson's concept of bankers as "priests of prosperity." The author explores the mechanisms by which these institutions acquired a near-religious status, basing their legitimacy on the tenets of price stability and political independence. A key element of the analysis is the concept of the "wormhole network"—a network connecting local elites with global professional centers, allowing for the transfer of institutional patterns without public debate. The text illuminates the paradoxes of the post-communist transformation and the growing conflict between technocratic isolation and the need for democratic sovereignty. This is an insightful look at how the hermetic language of finance masks profound political and social processes, leading to the phenomenon of financial nationalism.