Module Bb: POLITICAL SYSTEM: CORRUPTION
Corruption
- In philosophical, theological, or moral discussions, it is spiritual or moral impurity or
deviation from an ideal.
Different scales of corruption:
1. Petty corruption
o It occurs at a smaller scale and occurs within established social frameworks and
governing norms. Example: exchange of small gifts or use of personal connections to
obtain favors.
2. Grand corruption
o Defined as corruption occurring at the highest levels of government in a way that
requires significant subversion of political, legal, and economic systems.
3. Systemic Corruption
o Corruption is primarily due to the weaknesses of an organization or process. It can be
contrasted with individual officials or agents who act corruptly within the system.
Factors that encourage system corruption:
Conflicting incentives
Discretionary powers
Monopolistic power
Lack of transparency
Low pay
A culture of impunity
Specific Acts of Corruption:
o Bribery is defined by Black’s Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or
solicitingof any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in
charge of public or legal duty.
o Extortion the obtaining of property from another induced by wrongful use of actual or
threatened force, violence, fear, or under color of official right.
o Embezzlement is the act of withholding assets for conversion (theft) of such assets, by
one or more persons to whom the assets were entrusted, either to be held or to be
used for specific purposes. It is a type of financial fraud.
Different Sectors where Corruption may Occur:
1. Government /Public Sector
o Public sector corruption is one of the more dangerous forms of corruption as the
corruption of the governing body cn lead to widespread effects.
2. Legislative System (Political)
o Political corruption is the abuse of public power office or resources by elected
government officials for personal gain.
o Example. Extortion, soliciting or offering bribes, purchasing votes by enacting laws that
use taxpayers’ money.
3. Executive System (police)
o Police corruption is a specific form of police misconduct designed to obtain financial
benefits, other personal gains, and/or career advancement for a police officer or officers
in exchange for not pursuing, or selectively pursuing an investigationor arrest.
Examples:
Soliciting and /or accepting bribes in exchange for not reporting organized drug or prostitution
rings or other illegal activities.
Police officers flout the police code of conduct to secure convictions of suspects like the use of
falsified evidence.
Police officers may deliberately and systematically participate in organized crime themselves.
4. Judiciary System
Judicial corporation refers to corruption-related misconduct of judges, through receiving or
giving bribes, improper sentencing of convicted criminals, bias in the hearing and jydgement of
arguments, an dother such misconduct.
5. Corporate
In dealings with other organizations, and dealings with the government .
6. Unions
Labor unions were found to protect and further the rights of emplyees via bargaining. However,
as with other entities, corruption has been known to happen within the organization. In
addition, some unions have been infiltrated by, associated organized crime syndicates.
7. Non-government organizations
NGO’s and other non-profit organizations are not immune to corruption and may be linked to
political corruption.
8. Political corruption
o An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly
related to their official duties.
