Political corruption

:This article is about political corruption. For other uses, see Corruption (disambiguation)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse of public office for the benefit of financial or religious interests, to serve some ethnic or other group interest, or for private gain.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All forms of government are susceptible in practice to political corruption. Degrees of corruption vary greatly, from minor uses of influence and patronage to do and return favours, to institutionalised bribery and beyond.

Related Topics:
Government - Patronage - Bribery

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The enemies of democracy are the elites which ruled in earlier political systems. The rich ruled the society, the production and distribution, using the monetary system, before politics and democracy took over. The religious elite are representing an even older system, which built on convictions.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When the rich manages to bribe a politician it is an older control system, the money, trying to influence the new control system, the democracy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a democracy to work really well it needs to be free from unfair influences.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As long as older elites are active and still have some power it will be impossible to eradicate corruption completely. Money talks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Corruption arises in both political and bureaucratic offices. It varies in scale and degree of organisation. Though corruption often facilitates criminal activities such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal prostitution, it is not restricted to these activities. For purposes of understanding the problem and devising remedies, it is important to keep corruption and other crimes analytically distinct.

Related Topics:
Drug trafficking - Money laundering - Prostitution

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Depending on the country or jurisdiction, what constitutes or does not constitute corruption may differ. For instance, certain political funding practices that are legal in one place may be illegal in another.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~