FILSAFAT KORUPSI - Direktori File UPI

162
This essay will describe and discuss different theories on the phenomenon that is corruption. The World
Bank declares corruption as one of the biggest obstacles to development in third world countries. Most
commonly, three degrees of corruption are discussed. Swedish International Development Cooperation
(Sida) describes them as follows: “…petty corruption (bureaucratic corruption), grand corruption
(political corruption) and state capture (corruption which affects the entire state apparatus).”
1
The fight against corruption has rather recently been brought up on the agenda; it was for a long time
looked upon as an internal affair. Only countries that had obtained a rather high development status where
considered as targets for anti-corruption measures. Nowadays, though, it is becoming more and more
obvious that corruption is devastating for any country. In a working paper on corruption written by Inge
Amundsen, lecturer at the Chr. Michelsen Institute for development studies and human rights, I found a
passage in the introduction that describes where corruption exists. “Corruption is found almost
everywhere, but it is stubbornly entrenched in the poor countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, it is widespread in
Latin America, it is deep-rooted in many of the newly industrialized countries, and it is reaching alarming
proportions in several of the post- communist countries.”
2
The Following quote by Mahatma Gandhi is well worth bearing in mind when looking at corruption
throughout the world. “Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as
they undoubtedly are today.” - Mahatma Gandhi
3
Aim and Research Questions
1
Sida, http://sida.se/sida/jsp/sida.jsp?d=439&a=1443&language=en_US, (April 5 th
2007)
2
I. Amundsen, Political Corruption: An Introduction to the Issues, (Chr. Michelsen
Institute, 1999), 1
3
Thinkexist.com, Mahatma Gandhi Quotes,
http://thinkexist.com/quotation/corruption_and_hypocrisy_ought_not_to_be/195346.html
(Feb. 12
th
2007)
Page 3
The aim of this essay is to explain the basic principles of corruption, to present different theories on
corruption as well as to try to identify certain incentives and solutions. What are the incentives to
corruption? How is corruption being countered?
Definition
Before one can start handling the subject that is corruption one has to choose what kind of corruption to
look at. In this essay I have chosen to exclude all forms of corruption within the private sector, e.g.
economic crime and tax evasion. This distinction is necessary when dealing with such an extensive matter;
it is also the generally accepted one. Consequently the corruption I have chosen to look at is within the
public sector. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica the modern definition of the word corruption is:
“Improper and usually unlawful conduct intended to secure a benefit for oneself or
another”4
The term corruption, however, has not always had the same meaning as it has today. In the Middle Ages
for example, there was no fundamental difference between the king‟s assets and the ones of the nation. 5
Therefore it was irrelevant to talk about corruption when the king used the nation‟s money for private
interests. Furthermore, the political systems throughout Europe during the same period of time included