Introduction

Politics. It can be a confusing topic for many. The governments involved, the different tiers, the rules and legislations, it can be a troublesome trail to trek. As a result, many of us choose to see it at the surface, where things are presented a little clearer, a little easier. But if you dig deep, you’ll discover there’s far more then meets the eye. Political corruption by definition is the “use of power by government officials for illegitimate private gain”. This essentially means that when a government official, organization or body uses their power illegally or without legitimate cause for their own gain or purposes, it qualifies as political corruption.

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A Brief History of Political Corruption

The World Bank estimates international bribery exceeds US$1.5 trillion annually or 2% of global GDP, but corruption is as old as human history; from our ancestors to modern leaders, all do it. Corruption is as old as human history. The First Dynasty (3100–2700 BC) of ancient Egypt noted corruption in its judiciary. The practice also existed in ancient China. In Chinese mythology, every household has a Kitchen God who watches the behaviour of its members. A week before Chinese New Year, the Kitchen God ascends to heaven to present his annual report to the Ruler of Heaven, the Jade Emperor. The fate of the household, whether this be reward or punishment, depends on this report. In an attempt to ensure a good report, many households smear a cake of sugar and honey onto the picture of the Kitchen God they keep in their homes before burning the image, which in Chinese mythology is how the Kitchen God can ascend to heaven to meet the Jade Emperor. Similarily, Greek historian Herodotus notes the Alcmaeonid family bribed the Oracle of Delphi priestesses, one of the most powerful mystical forces of ancient Greek. Dating back to 1400 BC, people all over Greece and beyond came to have their questions answered by the Pythia, high priestess of Apollo. The wealthy Alcmaeonid family offered to lavishly rebuild the Temple of Apollo with “Parian Marble” after it had been destroyed by an earthquake. In return, Pythia convinced the nation-state Sparta to help the family to conquer and rule Athens. Since it worked, Aristotle noted even gods can be bribed! As the global economy expanded significantly during the 20th century, levels of corruption increased as well. It is difficult to estimate the global magnitude and extent of corruption since these activities are carried out in secret. Corruption permeates all levels of society from low-level public servants accepting petty bribes to national leaders stealing millions of dollars. And although it’s greatest victims are the innocents affected, this ugly trait of government still rears it’s ugly head in our own backyard.

 

 

Issues and Challenges brought on by Political Corruption

Corruption is an ancient and complex phenomenon. It has been present in various forms since the earliest ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, when abuses from public officials for personal gain were recorded. Discussions on political corruption also appeared in the writings of Greek philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle. For centuries now, philosophers, sociologists, political scientists, and historians have analyzed the concept of corruption, usually in the context of bribery. More recently, in the face of globalization and political and financial integration, the study of corruption has broadened to include many different manifestations. Even so, there is not a single definition of corruption accepted by scholars and institutions working on this issue. The concept is broad and difficult to define and measure. Yet, corruption is everywhere, and it is the most corrosive social behaviour of our time. To deter and abolish it, it must first be understood and then addressed using the right strategies. This issue brief deals with the complexities involved in defining, understanding, and measuring corruption—
first steps in dealing with this pervasive problem, where corruption has increased in recent years, to illustrate these complexities.

Beyond defining corruption, its consequences have also been analyzed by scholars in various disciplines. They have found that corruption negatively impacts major variables

Developing countries do not have specific strategies or legal systems to determine corruption and, in some cases, it has already been established as normal behaviour that has significant negative impacts on economic growth such as poverty, inequality, economic growth, social welfare, skilled emigration, expenditure on education and health, and civil and political rights. Hence, corruption can negatively affect institutional, social, political, and economic development. In addition, as corruption becomes more pervasive in society, perceptions of injustice, waste of public resources, and political instability increase. These negative impacts are exacerbated under specific conditions,

including in developing countries with higher levels of poverty and inequality and
less transparency in their institutions and legal systems. Such negative consequences
of corruption are especially prevalent in societies under a monopoly, monopsony,
or large government with multiple welfare programs. All scholarship points to the fact
that these nations must prevent corruption from becoming systemic, as it reduces the
ability of economies to grow. Worse, in such countries, corruption works as a regressive
tax that affects the income of the poor people more than the income of other groups.
Analyzing the impact of corruption on economic growth further illustrates the complexity inherent in this issue.