Political Corruption

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Political corruption has existed throughout the ages. It believed to be most prominent in positions of power, because of the role money plays in getting people power. However, over the centuries, corruption has changed so much so as to not match a particular definition of corruption, perpetually growing deceptively harder to find (Ebbe).

The broadest, most suitable definition which exists today simply states that corruption is any illegal act performed by a politician to produce results which would have been otherwise impossible (Ebbe). In some cases, government, politicians, and criminals entwine for the sake of amassing money in order to secure their own jobs. This form of corruption was apparent in the mafia’s association with the government in the early 1900’s. Once government involvement takes place, the force foreign to the government gains enough power and evidence against the government that this kind of corruption becomes extremely difficult to stop. Political corruption, however, is most visible in governments in which an elite, or an elite few, hold absolute power, and keeps the saying “absolute power corrupts absolutely” true to this day.

In other cases, dictatorships can be the source of corruption. With absolute power, there is nothing to stop you from abusing your power. Political corruption in dictatorships can easily be seen as a mode of survival in countries that lack the stability for work opportunities. In the world today, countries lacking sufficient law enforcement see superfluous amounts of corruption.

In cases of poverty, however, corruption is merely a mode of sustenance (Kibaki). In countries in which there is little to no income, there are very few options that allow for a bearable life wit...

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Gakuo Mwangi, O.. "Political corruption, party financing and democracy in Kenya. " The Journal of Modern African Studies 46.2 (2008): 267-285. ProQuest Political Science, ProQuest. Web. 19 Feb. 2010.

Gingerich, Daniel. "Ballot Structure, Political Corruption, and the Performance of Proportional Representation." Journal of Theoretical Politics 21.4 (2009): 509-541. Web. 19 Feb 2010. .

Hallagan, W.. "Corruption in dictatorships. " Economics of Governance 11.1 (2010): 27. ProQuest Political Science, ProQuest. Web. 19 Feb. 2010.

Kibaki, Mwai. "Kenya; Kenyans Must Seek Ways to Eradicate Political Corruption." Africa News July 17, 2008 Thursday: 1. Print.

Knox, C.. "Building Trust amidst Corruption in Bangladesh. " Round Table 98.403 (2009): 449. ProQuest Political Science, ProQuest. Web. 19 Feb. 2010.

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