perhaps, given the context (pursuit of personal obsessions ...)

IMO, Geltungs*anspruch* = Geltungs*beduerfnis*

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2005-04-26 16:03:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

ooops ... and given the absence of political aims

Das wäre die englische Übersetzung...

"Geltungsanspruch" is a claim of validity or application. From your context and other background, this term could fit.

German term (edited): Verfolgung persoenlicher Geltungsansprueche

just an alternative to the other answers :)

Interesting! Depending on what else you know about him, agree with Sarah that attention-getting plays a role, so perhaps: his actions seem to have had no political purpose beyond the indulgence of personal obsessions and delusions of grandeur - or ... and the pursuit of ... status. But, do the pursuit or indulgence of pet causes and attention-seeking behavior have any political content at all? Perhaps in Rome, but I'm very about the connector "beyond" (or "other than"), not to mention the rest.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 56 mins (2005-04-26 18:54:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

very *unsure* (sorry)

Lieber William

Du hast zurecht Schwierigkeiten bei diesem Wort, das du schon in richtiger Weise zerlegt hast.

Die Kollegen haben Geltungsanspruch zumeist mit Geltungsbedürfnis gleichgesetzt, was ich durchaus statthaft finde, weil das Wort "Geltung", etwas zu "gelten" haben (abgeleitet von "Geld", siehe meine Webreferenz aus dem Grimmschen Wörterbuch), an sich schon gleichbedeutend ist mit einem Anspruch auf Geltung, was einem Bedürfnis nach Geltung fast entspricht.

Der ANSPRUCH auf Geltung wäre aber neben dem individuell-psychologischen mehr noch eine Einforderung auf Grund äußerer Gegebenheiten, also zum Beispiel ich habe Anspruch auf Geltung, "weil ich dein Vater bin", oder weil ich der "Kaiser von China" bin, etwas also was den Anspruch auf dieses "etwas zu gelten haben" (zumindestens scheinbar objektiv) begründet.

Ich hoffe, dass ich hilfreich für deine Frage sein konnte.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs 5 mins (2005-04-27 01:03:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Being not a native english speaker I am really not sure what to suggest, the nearest I think is \"(sense of) entitlement\" what was already proposed.

sounds like a classic megalomaniac ...

e.g. "his pursuit of personal obsessions and desire for recognition"

In order to find the right way of translating Geltungsanspruch into English, we have to know the person in question:

http://www.portergaud.edu/cmcarver/jctp.html

"... A patrician, Publius Clodius Pulcher, infamous as a rogue, played a crucial part in the exile of Cicero. Years earlier, Clodius had been discovered with Caesar’s second wife, Pompeia, in the women-only religious ceremony of the Bona Dea. Charged with desecration of sacred rites before the Senate, he defended himself against Cicero, who abused and badgered him during the trial. Although Clodius was acquitted (the jury was heavily bribed), Caesar divorced Pompeia and had refused to testify, saying “I wished my wife to be not so much as suspected.” Clodius could never forgive Cicero for this prosecution and now Caesar was able to capitalize upon this hatred. The story goes that Clodius so hated Cicero that he had himself adopted into a plebeian family so that he might become Tribune and promote this law."

:-))

Therefore, IMO "need for recognition" is the best choice here.