2. What is Corruption
The term corruption can be used in a wide variety of contexts, each having differentmeanings. It is derived from the Latin term
corruptio,
meaning seduction from loyalty, diseased,corrupt condition and is generally associated with moral decadence
2
. The concise OxfordDictionary defines corruption as evil, morally depraved or willing to act dishonestly in return formoney or personal gain
3
. In terms of social science, according to the Collins Dictionary of Sociology (1995), corruption is, “the abandonment of expected standards of behaviour by thosein authority for the sake of unsanctioned personal advantage”. (Siergiejew, 2003)The World Bank, an anti-corruption agency, define corruption in more simple terms as
theabuse of public office for private gain
. The World Bank proceeds to categorise corruption into severalcategories; Bribery, Theft, Patronage and Influence Peddling. Considering the above categories,one would assume that corruption per se is easy to define and categorise. However, in reality,corruption can manifest itself in many different forms within the aforementioned categories.Depending on the observer’s ethical and moral background, an action may or may not belabelled as corrupt.In China for instance, building relationships with business partners is extremely importantand it would be customary for Chinese businessmen to exchange personal gifts or services. TheChinese place significant importance in the concept of
關係
(Guanxi) and would not associatesuch a gesture with corruption. This concept is central in Chinese society and describes the basicdynamic in the complex nature of personalised networks of influence and social relationships. Itis possible that an observer from outside of China would mistake this gesture as corruption. Inparticular, if the gift is being given to a person in authority, the motives might be seen asdubious. A persons perception of corruption depends almost entirely on their cultural, ethical andmoral values. In many cultures, Religion provides the underlying framework behind our ethical,moral and cultural beliefs. In fact, religion and morality have been closely intertwined since thebeginning of western thought. The Greeks focused on the concept of
homer
, “a body of textstransmitted first orally and then written down in the seventh century BCE” (StanfordEncyclopaedia of Philosophy). Morality and religion are connected in the Hebrew Bibleprimarily by the category of God's command. God issues a series of commands. Firstly, “Letthere be light”. Then, af ter the creation of animals, God gives a second kind of command, “Befruitful and multiply”. In the second chapter there is a third kind of command. God tells Adamthat he is free to eat from any tree in the garden, but he must not eat from the tree of theknowledge of good and evil. When Adam and Eve disobey God, they are expelled from thegarden. “God is setting up a kind of covenant by which humans will be blessed if they obey thecommands God gives them”. (Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy)
Mark Regan 2
2
Babalon,
Latin Dictionary
, 1 July 2009, http://www.babylon.com/define/112/Latin-Dictionary.html
3
Oxford Dictionary, 1 July 2009, http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/corrupt?view=uk
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FYI: This essay scored 85% in Business Ethics. Course: Masters in International Business.
Hi Mark, am trying to download the report so i can use it but i cant any help plz