A worldwide map of political corruption can be seen at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption

Countries with the lowest degree of political corruption: Finland and Denmark.

Countries with the highest degree of political corruption: Somalia, Northern Korea, Afghanistan.

And for a definition of political corruption we can state:

Political corruption is the use of power by government officials for private gain. An act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties, is done under color of law or involves trading in influence (or shares, with non-public intelligence).

Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft, and embezzlement. Corruption may facilitate criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking, though is not restricted to these activities. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by private persons or corporations not directly involved with the government. These are non-political expressions of corruption.

The activities that constitute political corruption differ depending on the country or jurisdiction. For instance, political funding practices maybe legal in one country but may be illegal in another. In the US it is legal practice, in Belgium it is not. In Belgium party funding is financed by the state in function of the number of votes a party obtains during federal, regional or city elections. Other ways of party financing are illegal.

In some cases, government officials have broad or ill-defined powers, which make it difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal actions. Worldwide, bribery alone is estimated to involve over 1 trillion US dollars annually. A state of unrestrained political corruption is known as a kleptocracy, literally meaning "The rule of a state by thieves".

An example of political corruption in Belgium is mostly seen at the financial level. A former minister of economy married with a judge, was brought to trial because he warned his wife that a certain bank during the crisis of 2008 was going to get broke. He had picked up that news during a government meeting in this issue. It was one of biggest banks in Belgium at the time. It was sold to the French Bank Paribas, One of the big global banks. Shares dropped dramatically after the news that the bank was broke and going to be sold what was left of it to Paribas.

The ministers wife had sold here shares just a few days befere the big drop in the values of the bank shares. That's a very nice example of political corruption in Belgium which caused a big dust storm and a typical example of what we call political corruption e.g., purely personal profit making, while most if not all the other shareholders lost all their money with worthless shares. It is form of kleptocracy. A rich political family is never rich enough it seems. They always crave for more. A saillant detail is that the minister in Belgium cannot be braught to trial because he enjoys the state of political immunity as long as he is in office. According to me that's one of the first privileges of politicians in public office that should be abolished.

Cheers,

Frank

Ljubomir,

Some instances of corruption in academia can be found in the below link.

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20131001160142405

My country, Serbia is suffering the corruption problems in many areas! As we are candidate for European Union membership, I am afraid that the level of corruption will increase !!!

@Raoof, yes, it is nice report of Transparency International on Corruption in Africa, especially in the areas of education! Thanks a lot!

Unfortunately, the corruption is exists in some areas in our country.

But the corruption increase in academic environments is a DISASTER.

I really agree with Raoof Corruption increases in academic environments

Honest, integrity and sincerity are the three parameters to measure the level of corruption and if we educated people can't measure it and could not be able to check it ,then we will be no where.

What type(s) of corruption, my friend, Ljubomir? Moral, societal, economic, personal, ethical, or all?

Until recent past, I was not very aware of corruption in higher research in India. But I have come to know of high corruption levels at places where non academicians control like University Grants Commission which had on its employees list majority from normal non researcher staff. They had the job to grant funding, rating, accredition, recognition of newer and private institutes and they were heavily drowned in corruption.

However, recently even academicians and many vice chancellors of the Universities have been found to be involved in corrupt practices. Because of the powers vested in them, they (few of them) are thoroughly corrupt in terms of money and image building. This all flows from the top political bosses because the procedures to appoint high posts are not transparent.

Dear Ljubomir,

corruption remains one of the biggest challenges for all societies, including European societies. Although the nature and scope of corruption may differ from one EU State to another, it harms the EU as a whole by lowering investment levels, hampering the fair operation of the Internal Market and reducing public finances. The economic costs incurred by corruption in the EU possibly amount to EUR 120 billion per year. This is one percent of the EU GDP, representing only a little less than the annual budget of the EU. The Report on the 28-nation European Union by the executive European Commission showed that almost the 50% of general corruption in Europe resides in Italy, Nice isn't?

Vijaya,

You are absolutely correct and thing about the vision of our Nation to compete with Globe.

Corruptions exists all around the world...@ Marwan in all fields...

Lijo,

Please suggest how to eradicate that great enemy>

Corruption, if it costs some bilions, is very bad thing. But if destroys a whole country completely then it is a matter of live or death! In reality corruption is everywhere in a society, there is no islands of clear matters.

There may be different grades of what is perceived as corruption. What is perceived as corrupt in one culture/environment/country is not necessarily perceived as corrupt in other cultures/environments/countries... Some might considered social favours based on past experiences corrupt, so in that case historical aspects have to be taken into account to judge cases of corruption. What is the exact definition of 'corrupt' to reach general consensus, independent from culture, environment or country?

Man is basically corrupt - To overcome the corruption one has to work hard -- one should believe in hard work - poor people are not corrupt while academicians and Rich are most corrupt

we see peasants are God fearing and if they do something against Dharma (Hindu philosophy ) nature will punish them

But Rich and the educated will not fear God and indulge in corrupt ways to achieve their end

After 1990's India has become highly corrupt nation - Man has to get satisfied with what he has got - only God can save India

dear Giovanni Zurlini among the developing countries India tops in corruption

Marcel, my good friend wrote an article about! I think there are many definitions on corrupt!

http://www.cipe.org/sites/default/files/publication-docs/032105.pdf

Dear Vijay Jindal if you want to get a lecturer post in Govt., of Tamilnadu you have to pay 30 lakhs; he will bribe all funding agencies and get projects - Govt., of India has initiated research projects for good purpose but it is lost - If you have 10 crores easily you will get VC post in Tamilnadu India

Dear Prof.,

I agree that if people think they are watched, even by a spiritual force, they will be less corrupt (e.g. less selfish taking community values into account?) I think, but still I wait for a general definition of what corruption is.

Corruption is present to all kind of countries, rich, poor and medium wealth. At poor countries corruption takes the form of brutal actions against the whole set of people, examples are in Africa where we have seen all kind of brutalities among dictatorships. On the other hand at rich countries, corruption is a little bit more sophisticated project, it is similar to luxury prostitution in contrast to the street prostitution. I mean the conversation between one who bribes and the other who gets the bribe is more elaborate, you cannot just ask him/her: "how much do you want in order to..?" but you have to take out him/her for dinner, discuss about so difficult is the life today with so many financial needs and so on...

Greece belongs to the second case.

I shall come back...

Recently in my country, several high profile cases of corruption were brought to my attention throughthe media. I was quite surprised but very happy that it is now seen as a great sin. But I just wait and pray that other social wrongs like nepotism will also be seen in it's true colors...

Sent from mobile.

let me define corruption

1. to get thing the way you want illegally

a) you can pay money

b) you can offer position

c) you can give award ( like padma shri etc.,)

d) you can help his/ her relative who do not deserve ( job in your company)

e) you can help giving free apartments ( as in bank loans )

f) you can give advertisements in the TV channels they own

g) you can give them licenses to open canteens in transport corporations/ railways

some examples i know

May be corruption is a fundamental component for all societies with double standards

Corruption in Government departments in India is like street prostitution (thanks Demetris Christopoulos ) for coining the word)

Our country is facing different challenges in corruption because of nexus between politicians and adminisration.This is universal all over India and pervades from top to bottom. This is being faced by us nearly seven decades of Independence.Several political parties trying their best to reduce corruption.

Dear F.,

I agree with: if there is no hunger (not a shortage of resources), no need to fight for food (no competition)!

In my country, a civil servant is not allowed to accept gifts - this is considered as corruption. But its funny, when some ethnics celebrate their event, inviting the high profiles to attend, offering food and entertainment, and perhaps souvenir to bring back, the word corruption is inevitably erased.

Where there is politics, there is corruption, and now a days politics is present in every sector sector of society.

As far as education sector is concerned, many institution take admission of student based on amount of donation they pay. We call it a back-door entry.

In government organisation, they will ask you for black money/bribe to do your work.

In construction sector, you will have to pay certain amount to different personals for getting the contract.

For getting any job in government or private organisation, you will have to pay bribe to personals already present there.

For making or preparing any documents (like passport, driving licence etc) sometimes you will have to pay bribe.

In short, corruption in the biggest monster in present world.

Regards,

Nitish

Hello N.,

And if they do it for free without (financial) counterpart, is it corruption?

As Fabrizio Ricciarelli · Sapienza University of Rome said:

Corruption is like an insidious disease....and, after some while, it stays chronic...

Latin: : 1) bribe , 2) ruining, 3) destroy ..... (the definition(s) in German might be more crispy (crispier?) than the English language can express....

But the beginnings of perhaps can be found principally earlier than one might think: as we are performing in our family, with our kids, with our neighbours, as we learn by and give (not limited to "scientific" or "spiritual") education ....

Poor only those who are withstanding and reluctant to "beginning" and widening they pay the price....

@Marcel

According to me, if they do it for free then it is their job, we cannot say it corruption.

Regards,

Nitish

Hello N.,

Which would imply that exactly the same act or interaction can be perceived as corruption or not depending on rewards received afterwards. Of course, then you have to define what a reward is: (1) financial reward versus social reward (e.g. saying thank you for your kindness). If friendly people get more 'favours' than unfriendly people, is this 'hidden' corruption or not?

Dear All,

Interesting!

Ranking of 177 countries and territories based on Corruption Perceptions Index in the below link:

First 4 countries (Very Clean):

- Denmark

- New Zealand

- Finland

- Sweden

Last 4 countries (Highly corrupt):

- Sudan

- Afghanistan

- North Korea

- Somalia

http://www.transparency.org/cpi2013/results

I fully agree with Lijo, corruption was, is and will be one of the worst internal enemies of the mankind!

My son, while serving as a Congressional aide in Washington, D.C., divided politicians into two groups: those genuinely interested in serving the public and those interested in preserving their power. We can say that the second group is particularly susceptible to corruption. They are to be found at all levels in the United States. At the present time, many Americans are following unfolding press releases of possible corruption in the Governor of New Jersey. This is serious because the Republican party was considering him to be candidate for President in the next Presidential elections. We do not know how this situation will turn out.

Dear Ljubomir

Corruption is so closely linked to the Brazilian culture that hardly anyone did not go at least know a corrupt person in this country. It covers virtually all sectors and it is quite costly to the nation's development .

The causes of this evil are directly linked to the historical context of Brazil , since the period of colonization settled an ideology to prevail over the other , and also has a close connection with the indifference of the majority that contributes to impunity in the country . The famous " Brazilian way " is present in all branches : Physicians , engineers , teachers , lawyers , politicians, businessmen , housewives , policemen and all other means have certain corrupt individuals . And very little is done to change this situation .

The consequences of corruption in the country are deplorable . The development is compromised : Roads in bad shape , hospitals without infrastructure , lack of quality education in short , poor quality of life . And all this while many dodge taxes , politicians take to themselves much of the taxes paid , other illicit drug trafficking , others use , and worst of all , a majority who pretends not to notice .

Corruption will remain in Brazil until the majority is aware that it must take steps to end it. Otherwise the country will remain the land of the corrupt

Dear Nelson,

When I was in Brazil in the 1990s teaching at a Catholic seminary, I remember visiting a women´s prison outside Brasília. The priests that I accompanied sang Mass and gave communion to those prisoners, whom the fathers always presumed innocent victims of the corrupt authorities in the Brazilian capital!!!

Iraq , a beleaguered land that has faded from headlines , a victim to US unhuman foreign policies or another word " war on terror" , a country that has been suffering from a harrowing deception for the past decade , makes no question corruptions plagues Iraq within every mile .my country government , is not an actual government , it 's bunch of burglars in suits and ties. Most of the money embezzled is believed to go abroad while the rest is kept in the bank or discreetly invested in property. They care about nothing except their own very personal benefits. The crippling impact of their corruption is reflected in the poverty and employment lists that Iraq has been topping for years putting in account it is considerably one of the wealthiest countries in the region !

Dear Nelson

Unfortunately this is the sad reality of our rich country, and the corruption is most evident in policy, Brazil yet still rich. Even when I do not know…..

@Marcel

If friendly people get more 'favour' than unfriendly people then sometimes it may be called as 'hidden' corruption or you may also call it indirect corruption if favor is done going against rules and regulations.

Regards,

Nitish

Oh! Amazing discussion. Some time back Michael Mannen raised a question "Ethical question of the century: is ethics purely a theoretical discipline?".The same topic ultimately diverted to corruption, check the link if you are interested

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Ethical_question_of_the_century_is_ethics_purely_a_theoretical_discipline

Corruption is every where I am remembering one of our stanza reg. God, translation of that I inserted word corruption in place of God "I have no doubts if Corruption can be found in here or there, this thing or that thing, you can find Corruption where ever you care to search for that……"

Society is deteriorating day by day and some guys are shamelessly supporting the corrupted guys, what a pity!!! Lord save the World.

Dear Nelson,

When I first went to teach in the seminary in Brazil, I asked my hosts whether I should wear a tie to class. They replied, "No! You will look like a politician!"

Corruption people learns through either from their parents or teachers.

Corruption people learns through either from their parents or teachers.

Until money are measure of social success I cant see no way out. Maybe legalize it and let them pay taxes.

I can imagine how politicians are laughing at our discussion here. They are happy with it no matter where they rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ Fabrizio

We may explore the world's corruption pattern through economic-oriented subjects.

I found the VERY CLEAN countries in the top right corner of the figure and HIGH CORRUPT ones in the bottom left part.

The attached explain the relationship of Gross Domestic Production and corruption.

Jalal, they have no time to laugh. They are too busy by counting their money and inventing the ways where to invest them or how to spend them. If ever, they might be briefed by their assistants on it on Monday to have a joke to share! :-)))))))))

Jalal and Tomy, they won´t laugh at our discussion: politicians don´t read!

Dear Nelson

Really. In Brazil when we find a politician fled running…..

Nelson, in the United States, politicians' aides read for them. These aides also take charge of writing to their constituents.

@Tomy and Nelson. Nice to hear that they are busy with investing and have no time to read. At least we can be sure that @Ljubomir does not bother them.

We may explore the world's corruption pattern through economic-oriented subjects.

I found the VERY CLEAN countries in the top right corner of the figure and HIGH CORRUPT ones in the bottom left part.

The attached explain the relationship of Gross Domestic Production and corruption.

Raoof,

That is a very surprising graph! In which country was it calculated?

1 / 0 · 15 minutes ago · Flag

Yes, interesting graph @Raoof...

@ Nelson and Lijo,

Sorry i have forgotten to cite the source.

I found the graph here:

http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/2010/11/11/corruption-and-the-wealth-of-nations/

Thank you, Raoof. The Economist is a pretty reliable source for those figures. Notice, though, that The Economist graph seems to measure corruption in industry (GNP), if I read the graph correctly. Therefore, government corruption as such may be left out of this graph. Or am I reading the graph wrong?

Perfect indicator where to move to live in peace and where to move to get rich! :-)))))))

Corruption is now in blood. 1 in 100 may not be corrupt. A very dangerous scenario especially in developing nations

From above discussion, I was able to understand that corruption is there in every country which I personally admired, so it means globally this disease corruption is being spread.

Also I think there are no people without corruption, I mean that if a person says that he/she is un-corrupt means that they may in a job in which they are not able to do corruption.

As even if a person is clean in their job, the environment in which they are working forces them to be corrupted.

Dear A.,

Its very difficult not to be 'corrupt' in a very dynamic environment. The question is then: what are the (long-term) consequences of decisions for the functioning of the society. Some decisions have much more impact than other decisions, and perhaps some decisions that have been named corrupt in the past may be beneficial several years after the decision was taken... It happens frequently that decisions are called corrupt based on ca. 5% of the information available

About the 'map of corruption': Are you joking that US is one of the less corrupted places in the World? Does any one of the map - makers hear about Washington DC lobbies and other issues? I think we should laugh with such a map...

Hi D,

I did not see the map, but it would be interesting if each country would be able to make such a map. But then again who will construct these maps, and what are the criteria used to decide whether a decision is 'corrupt' or just a 'decision error'?

@Arunkumar if somebody forces and the environment is corrupted do you become the same rather than correcting? I say it depends on nature of the person neither environment nor others can force them. Many heads many minds that everybody knows. Kindly do not generalize the statement. Are you not watching the Indian political scenario how deteriorated and how shamelessly just for power sake they are playing with common people for electing them blindly. Now they might have been learnt a lesson and do not vote them again. Main problem many rural people are uneducated (50%) money plays important role in elections, highly educated guys show lethargy for voting.

Good contributions! Thanks to all of You! Here are fresh Gallup news on Corruption issue all around the world!

http://www.gallup.com/tag/corruption.aspx

For sure there is corruption in almost all fields of life: economics, business, medicine, science. So what?

If "everyday" corruption is a bad thing, in the area of education it is just something terrible because it irreparably damages the psyche of young people; they begin to adopt corrupt behavior as normal and normal behavior - as abnormal. Just imagine how these people with such an "inverted" thinking will bring up later on their children? So if the penalty for corrupt behavior in the ordinary life is one, in education it must be much more serious (the corruption there should be treated as a grave crime).

@Cyril, you are right. As a father, I do care that my children are not destroyed. As a scientist, I try to keep required level for my younger colleagues. As a citizen, I can only become a Quixote. Corruption in science is based on various metrics and indexes. I already tried to fight - really, I was a Quixote.

Dear Linas, I am also a Don Quixote in this life ... and this broke my psyche...

By the way, the education is extremely beneficial for corruption to flourish because of the necessity (inevitability) to climb the hierarchical ladder of academic ranks... Low wages and unemployment contribute to the prosperity of this ugly phenomenon...

Dear Ljubomir,

I am pessimist. Corruption can not be eradicated ever, at least, in democratic society. Even if we elect a number of honest persons for government, there will be a lot of corruptive officials at the middle level, just which affect our life. Corruption can not be overcome at democratic human laws. Corruption is always lower at rigid power, using capital punishment.

Cyril, Linas, in my family I apparently raised a Don Quixote too. My younger son early entered politics with the aim of public service. He wants to be an "honest" politician amidst a sea of corruption. I hope he succeeds without being trampled upon.

http://mt.finam.info/blog/43386884910/Summarnaya-korruptsiya-Evropyi-menshe,-chem-Rossii?utm_campaign=transit&utm_source=main&utm_medium=page_0&pad=1

Dear Ljubomir,

Russia is a leader in corruption. You see, 191 milliard dollars were taken from Russia.

What breed corruption is politics. Politicians creed for power and wealth. Its very hard to see a honest politician.

dear Linas Balciauskas ,

i missed my promotions in my career as i criticized people who indulge in science corruption

Corruption in the post-liberalized (after 1991) scenario has taken up such a monstrous proportion of the socioeconomic life in India that the cry for 'corruption-free-politics' has become the catchword for all the parliamentarian political parties (even those who are standing neck-deep inside the slur). However, there is little discussion on why certain mode of transactions, deals, practices, dreams, aspirations and accomplishments are trying to tread paths not prescribed in a holy compendium called the constitution of the land. The crux of the matter lies in the fact that the time-period of global recessionary cycle has become so long, uncertainties in the recovery of the marketplace bonhomie has become so universal that as a survival tactics, big capital has started encouraging mega-jamborees, short-term intensive warfare and any kind of large-scale events (say, limited over cricket frenzy) where there is some scope to melt the capital and revitalize the prospect of generating super profits. Encouraging 'Mars Mission' is given priority over proper groundwater management to provide pure drinking water to all the citizens. Nuclear power plants are funded for a tropical country like India (under the pressure of multinational corporations)where solar and wind energy is in plenty. Subjects like 'Fashion Technology', 'Eco-Tourism' and 'Hotel management' are given more emphasis and funding than 'Earth System Science' and 'River water management' (there is no intention to downgrade the importance of different branches of inquiries). Increasing corruption is a simple indicator of lack of sustainability of capitalism in its present form. Be it scientific field or any other field of our social existence, the situation demands a drastic change in the social attitude regarding the trumpeted model of 'progress'. Unless sincere researchers are ready to do hard work to search for alternatives, crying for increasing corruption may not help to clear up the mess.

@Prof Murali, congratulations for practicing science values of honesty and integrity. Many of us appreciate what you have done. You have also paid a price, thank you.

@Siddhartha, human resource and the well-being of its citizens is more important than space missions, eco tourism and the other subjects you have described. Researchers must work hard and Speak up...who will listen?

Sent from mobile.

We are corrupted so why to the others.Try to rectify yourself if you want to a citizen of corruption free Nation.

@Dillip et al., right now I can think of a few politicians who were not corrupt as far as we know. One of them is Nelson Mandela, just passed away recently; imprisoned many years for his ideals.

Another one is one of my favorite history characters : William Wilberforce, responsible for abolishing slave trade in UK. Now, if I can do like them, it's fine for me to be in politics. Same for all of us :)

Sent from mobile.

@Miranda, I am going to disappoint you, but Mandela's wife was too... corrupted!

Dear Miranda,

My younger son entered politics with the idea of becoming an honest politician. Sadly, he recently left politics for private industry....

Hi friends, I think many of us don't particularly like politics at all. Thanks for the info, Demetris, and Nelson. I will get back when time permits :)

Sent from mobile.

Dear Miranda,

All the religious highly humanistic persons are saint. As for the greatest political leaders, I think, M.Gandhi, M.L.King, "honest Ab" (Lincoln) were the noblest, and that's why the most tragic.

A worldwide map of political corruption can be seen at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption

Countries with the lowest degree of political corruption: Finland and Denmark.

Countries with the highest degree of political corruption: Somalia, Northern Korea, Afghanistan.

And for a definition of political corruption we can state:

Political corruption is the use of power by government officials for private gain. An act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties, is done under color of law or involves trading in influence (or shares, with non-public intelligence).

Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft, and embezzlement. Corruption may facilitate criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking, though is not restricted to these activities. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by private persons or corporations not directly involved with the government. These are non-political expressions of corruption.

The activities that constitute political corruption differ depending on the country or jurisdiction. For instance, political funding practices maybe legal in one country but may be illegal in another. In the US it is legal practice, in Belgium it is not. In Belgium party funding is financed by the state in function of the number of votes a party obtains during federal, regional or city elections. Other ways of party financing are illegal.

In some cases, government officials have broad or ill-defined powers, which make it difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal actions. Worldwide, bribery alone is estimated to involve over 1 trillion US dollars annually. A state of unrestrained political corruption is known as a kleptocracy, literally meaning "The rule of a state by thieves".

An example of political corruption in Belgium is mostly seen at the financial level. A former minister of economy married with a judge, was brought to trial because he warned his wife that a certain bank during the crisis of 2008 was going to get broke. He had picked up that news during a government meeting in this issue. It was one of biggest banks in Belgium at the time. It was sold to the French Bank Paribas, One of the big global banks. Shares dropped dramatically after the news that the bank was broke and going to be sold what was left of it to Paribas.

The ministers wife had sold here shares just a few days befere the big drop in the values of the bank shares. That's a very nice example of political corruption in Belgium which caused a big dust storm and a typical example of what we call political corruption e.g., purely personal profit making, while most if not all the other shareholders lost all their money with worthless shares. It is form of kleptocracy. A rich political family is never rich enough it seems. They always crave for more. A saillant detail is that the minister in Belgium cannot be braught to trial because he enjoys the state of political immunity as long as he is in office. According to me that's one of the first privileges of politicians in public office that should be abolished.

Cheers,

Frank

Frank, your answer is excellent. I would give it two upvotes if I could.

Interesting !

LEGAL or IN-LAW CORRUPTION !

http://state.zxq.net/corruption.htm

http://www.pedrovicente.org/legal.pdf

Riots and street protests across the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are the result of corruption, thievery and nepotism. Hungry stomachs are on the streets. Do we have the Arab Spring in Bosnia?

I would like to cite Friedrich Nietzsche sentence, which is very relevant ( I think so):

In all institutions where the brisk air of public criticism fails to circulate (as, for example, in scholarly bodies and senates), an innocent corruption grows up, like a mushroom.