Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2. China 2. Norway
3. Japan 3. Switzerland
4. Germany 4. Ireland
6. France 6. Qatar
7. India 7. USA
8. Italy 8. Denmark
9. Brazil 9. Singapore
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MOST HONEST NATIONS IN THE WORLD MOST CORRUPT NATIONS IN THE WORLD
1. Singapore 1. Venezuela
2. Sweden 2. Burundi
3. Canada 3. Libya
4. Luxembourg 4. Sudan
5. Netherlands 5. Afghanistan
8. Australia 8. Syria
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TYPES OF REPUBLIC
1. Absolute Monarchy – a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered,
i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition. (Vatican, Saudi
Arabia, Brunei, Oman)
2. Anarchy – a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the
absence of governmental authority.
3. Authoritarian – a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many
aspects of citizens’ lives.
4. Commonwealth – a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united
by a compact of the people for the common good.
5. Communist – a system of government in which the state plans and controls the
economy and a single – often authoritarian – party holds power; state controls are
imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while
claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are
equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society). (China, Vietnam, Cuba)
6. Confederacy (Confederation) – a union by compact or treaty between states,
provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the
constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those
delegated to the central government.
7. Constitutional – a government by or operating under an authoritative document
(constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that
determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.
8. Constitutional Democracy – a form of government in which the sovereign power of
the people is spelled out in a governing constitution. (Australia, Belgium, Cambodia,
Canada)
9. Constitutional Monarchy – a system of government in which a monarch is guided by
a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in
written law or by custom.
10. Democracy – a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the
people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation
and delegated authority periodically renewed.
11. Democratic Republic – a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of
citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
12. Dictatorship – a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute
power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
13. Ecclesiastical – a government administrated by a church.
14. Emirate – similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the
supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may
be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
15. Federal (Federation) – a form of government in which sovereign power is formally
divided – usually by means of a constitution – between a central authority and a
number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region
retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that
the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as
upon the regional units. (United States, Germany, Mexico, Malaysia)
16. Federal Republic – a state in which the powers of the central government are
restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a
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degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who
chose their governmental representatives.
17. Islamic Republic – a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states;
although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are
required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.
18. Maoism – the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao
Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the
leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.
19. Marxism – the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century
economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical
forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers)
exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist “dictatorship of the
proletariat,” to, finally, a classless society – Communism.
20. Marxism-Leninism – an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from
doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and
shifted the focus of workers’ struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.
21. Monarchy – a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a
monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right;
the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign – such as a king,
queen, or prince – with constitutionally limited authority.
22. Oligarchy – a government in which control is exercised by a small group of
individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.
23. Parliamentary Democracy – a political system in which the legislature (parliament)
selects the government – a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the
cabinet ministers – according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this
system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to
the parliament.
24. Parliamentary Government (Cabinet-Parliamentary Government) – a government in
which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader – a prime
minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or
parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be
dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or
the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.
25. Parliamentary Monarchy – a state headed by a monarch who is not actively
involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign
powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is
carried out by a cabinet and its head – a prime minister, premier, or chancellor –
who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).
26. Presidential – a system of government where the executive branch exists separately
from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable).
27. Republic – a representative democracy in which the people’s elected deputies
(representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
28. Socialism – a government in which the means of planning, producing, and
distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a
more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist
governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a
ruling elite.
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29. Sultanate – similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is
in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute
ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
30. Theocracy – a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme
civil ruler, but the Deity’s laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops,
mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
31. Totalitarian – a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by
controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values,
and beliefs of its population.
However, no matter what the form of government, corruption and scandals remain
to be a fixture even in the ten wealthiest nations of the world as a result of bad
governance. The importance of good governance becomes more and more
imperative in order to make the world of politics and business quite responsive to the
needs of every global citizen. The succeeding pages enumerate the kinds of corruption
that can bring the economies of the world to collapse.
The Need for Good Governance and Social Responsibility
Corruption is a major cause of poverty and poverty is a major cause of corruption. It
surfaces at all levels of society, from local and national governments, civil society, the
judiciary, large and small businesses, the military and other services, and so on. It most
devastatingly affects the poorest people in all countries, whether rich or poor,
developing, emerging, or developed.
There is reason to fear what the future may bring if good governance and social
responsibility are not foremost in the minds of every nation’s most powerful individuals.
Ethical practices have dwindled. Morals are often considered “passé” especially when
competing in the global arena where the rules of the jungles spell out who becomes
the victor. Furthermore, those people who are entrusted with fiduciary responsibility
often are those who betray others in search of lavish, preposterous, and overwhelming
riches.
Today, leaders of business and governments had caused a lot of havoc to the
global economy because of their greed for power and financial wealth. Many of them
took the money of their companies legally in the form of executive compensation,
fringes, and perks that are sky high – but alas undeserved in more ways than one.
As a matter of fact, because of their skillful manipulation of their respective board of
directors, they were able to acquire a number of companies to which they were
appointed as Chief Executive Officer on concurrent basis. Eventually, because no
person, no matter how intelligent and talented, can be spread too thinly, the
organizations loses steam under their leadership and suffers tremendous meltdowns.
In other cases, the CEOs in collusion with their Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) employ
creative accounting that can clearly disguise the true financial worth of their
companies. Subsequently, the external auditors who certified to the verifiability of their
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financial reports, themselves lose their reputation and had been left with no recourse
but to close down their consultancies.
On the other hand, the corruption in governments had brought forth decay not only
within its walls, but also greatly destroyed the integrity and ethics of many officials and
employees, who instead of rendering the services needed by a nation’s citizens, take
advantage of their power to enrich themselves at the expense of all others.
In the Philippines, corruption is so prevalent. It occurs in the hands of the lowly
government workers all the way up to the highest officials of the land – the legislative,
the judicial, and the executive branches of powers. Each of these supposedly bastions
of democracy, good faith, fairness and justice, are all tainted by some or a few
unscrupulous personalities whose reputations precede them.
As a result the citizens pay the highest price for social services. The corrupt officials
get their payments. Their lives improve as long as they are not caught, but always at
the expense of the people, because the former, deplete greatly the funds intended for
badly needed services and infrastructure improvements. Consequently, projects are
delayed or do not meet requirements and contractors have troubles getting paid for
their work.
It is under these scenarios that the students of management and other disciplines will
be introduced to the real world where corruption, corporate scandals, and social
irresponsibility pervade every nook and corner of the corridors of power and society.
They must also be made to understand that people love money and this love of money
may be the root cause of all evils that exist in every society. Unless good governance
and social responsibility take place, we shall be doomed as a global society.
Incidences of Corruption in Different Parts of the World
Corruption resides in every soil. It is everywhere. People either try to fight it or give up
trying to eliminate or reduce it. Worst, some end up corrupted because of the lure of a
great, comfortable, and prosperous life. Simply, individual efforts cannot end it. But
there is nowhere else to start eradicating or minimizing it except in the hearts and minds
of people who have the will to remain honest and true to their sworn obligations to God
and country.
Fortunately, there is some glimpse of hope in what Transparency International does –
a global society organization leading the fight against corruption that brings people
together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption
on men, women, and children around the world – with a singular mission of creating
change towards a world free of corruption.
Transparency International (TI) defines corruption operationally as “the misuse of
entrusted power for private gain.” This definition clearly points out that power in the
hands of or at the discretion of a wrong individual is a basically what corrupts.
TI further distinguishes between corrupt practices under two categories. One that
greases the palms of a person in power to give preferential treatment in the
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performance of what he is legally required by law or by his position to do and the other
to be favored with services that the bribe taker is legally or inherently not allowed to do.
If a municipal employee releases ahead of schedule a business license applied for
and disregards as well – the “first-in, first-out” or “first-come, first-served” principles in
consideration of a sum of money, it is referred to corruption “according to rule”. On the
other hand, if the same individual is bribed and releases a business license to an
establishment who has failed to submit all documentary requirements, the corruption is
described as “against the rule”.
David Osterfeld, author and economist, identified two kinds of corruption that exists
in heavily regulated economies which may somehow explain why some countries
identified at the “top of the heap” of corrupt nations are economically successful.
These are:
1. Expansive Corruption – involves activities that improve the competitiveness and
flexibility of the market; and
2. Restrictive Corruption – limits opportunities for productive and socially beneficial
exchange.
Business Corruption in Indonesia and China
Ray Fisman, the Lambert family professor of social enterprise and the Director of
Social Enterprise at the Columbia Business School, in his treatise, The Bad Kind of
Corruption, stated that China and Indonesia both grew astronomically despite
pervasive corruption. Under the 30-year rule of Suharto which ended in 1998, Indonesia
registered an unparalleled growth rate of 6% per capital income per year. This was
overshadowed by China recently despite its high ranking in the list of corrupt nations
published by Transparency International.
Fisman deposed that it does not mean that corruption has been good for Indonesian
and Chinese incomes (though many would argue it has been) – because he believed
they would be even be richer, otherwise. However, it is a fact that the relatively orderly
and benign style of corruption in China allowed its great leap forward into economic
progress.
He further commented that corruption is damaging to economic growth because it
is no different from a tax, albeit one that gets deposited in a bureaucrat’s pocket rather
that the state treasury. Just as high tax rates can discourage business entry and growth,
so too will a bribe “tax” on business.
Continuing on he said that -- taxes -- though subject to the vagaries of politics and
populism -- are at least in theory codified in law. But in some countries, bribe payments
are also common knowledge -- a Moscow newspaper, for example, famously published
in 2008 the going rates for everything from buying a court verdict to instigating a police
raid. In other instances, the requisite payment remains ambiguous, with grasping
politicians or bureaucrats trying to squeeze as much out of each individual business as
possible. Creating further uncertainty, while tax payments are recorded and required
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by law, bribes, by definition, happen under the table, so it's harder to ensure that one's
partner in crime makes good on his commitment to provide a favorable ruling or
delivery of a license as promised.
Fisman ended his study by stating that “ … in an orderly, predictable -- yet corrupt --
system, businesses can at least calculate expected returns and plan accordingly.
Paying bribes to an unstable or unpredictable government, on the other hand, requires
a leap of faith and a quick exit strategy. This will reduce the overall level of investment
and also shift the types of projects toward those that generate a quick buck rather than
a long-term payoff.”
In New South Wales, Australia in 1989, the Premier, Nick Greiner, was accused by the
anti-corruption commission which he had established on coming into office, of acting
corruptly in providing a public service job for a former supporter so as to enlarge his
majority in the New South Wales Parliament. This was done against the law and in
conflict between the demands of politics and the demands of public office.(Case
example taken from Political Corruption, Heidenheimer and Johnston [eds] 2002:53.)
Corruption in Public Procurement in France
The Ile de France trial, one of the biggest trials involving alleged corruption in public
procurement ever held in France, opened in March 2005. Seven years of investigation
were required to expose an extensive system of corruption in procurement contracts for
the construction or renovation of 300 of the 470 high schools in the Ile de France, the
region around Paris. The case involves 47 defendants, who if found guilty face up to 10
years in prison for collusion, concealing corruption, and influence peddling.
The accusations centre on allegations that companies paid major political parties to
win contracts to renovate schools around Paris. The defendants include a former
cooperation minister, an ex-president of the Ile de France regional council and a former
labour minister, as well as the former treasurers of three political parties and business
executives.
Following a decision by the Ile de France regional council to upgrade the school
facilities, it reportedly signed 114 10-year construction and maintenance contracts
valued at close to €1.4 billion (US $1.68 billion) in total, with only five multinational
companies. It was alleged that these companies made an unofficial and secret deal,
involving the payment of 2 per cent of the value of the contracts to various political
parties: 1.2 per cent to the ruling Rassemblement Pour la République and 0.8 per cent
to the Socialist Party, with smaller allocations to the Republican and Communist parties.
The payments took the form of apparently legal gifts to finance the parties' campaigns.
Between 1991 and 1996, some €30 million (US $36 million) were paid out under the
scheme. (Case examples cited from TI Global Corruption Report 2006:158-159.- Antoine
Genevois).
Legal Corruption in the United States of America
American lawyers are directly under the thumb of the judges and the government,
and must submit to the culture of bribery and perversion of justice, or else face terrifying
revenge. Lawyers just like you, can be instantly jailed by an American judge, on flimsy
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pretexts, and American lawyers can be quickly stripped of their right to practice law,
and personally and financially destroyed, if they dare to criticize legal corruption.
Lawyers who try to fight the system can find themselves not only disbarred, but also
criminally charged and jailed, and no other lawyer will help them. It is a horribly
crooked system in America.
This is different from other advanced countries, where lawyers are usually a
professional guild, whose status and right to practice law, is under the control of only
their fellow lawyers. This means that, in other countries, the judges and the government
cannot easily ruin or attack the lawyers for purely political reasons. This is also part of
why, in other developed countries, outside of America, you really do see brave lawyers
fighting for unpopular clients, or challenging the government and asking for justice.
But in America, its different. Over the past century, the American lawyers lost the
right to regulate themselves, and instead fell under the power of the judges. American
lawyers are afraid to do things in court, that the judges don’t want them to do.
America’s army of nearly 1 million lawyers, is almost totally under the control of a few
thousand judges, with their entrenched culture of bribery and fraud and miscarriage of
justice.
Some USA lawyers don’t like this, but they are helpless and cant fight it. Most lawyers
in America have, to one degree or another, signed up with the devil, to do things the
way the devil wants them done.
That means that any time you hire an American lawyer, he already is in conflict of
interest. He has to make the judge happy first and if the judge wants to make the
government happy, or make somebody else happy who is paying a big bribe, then
guess what? You are destroyed, it doesn’t matter what you paid the lawyer. He works
for the judge, first and foremost.
Police Corruption in Mexico and USA
There's no end to reports of low-paid cops who can't resist the lure of easy money
that an illegal drug trade engenders. Combating the violent gangs and ruthless
businessmen, the average sworn, full-time policeman in the US as of 1999 was earning
between $29,840 and $41,206, according to a national survey conducted by the
International City/County Management Association, (ICMA) in Washington DC. Putting
their lives on the line everyday in a War that shows no sign of end, no success or victory
just around the corner, it is easy to understand how these officers could get
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discouraged and maybe feel they deserve more for their risks and services when finding
stacks of untraceable money on drug raids, or offered payoffs by dealers and cartels.
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Bribery in Impoverished Schools in Baitha
Hakim Almasmari wrote … Some teachers have been accepting bribes from
students desperate for passing grades, say several Sanaani teachers. Nabil Ali al-Salahi,
a teacher at al-Hajar secondary school in Baitha, says that teachers often take bribes
from students, because their salaries of about $150 per month are not sufficient to cover
their living expenses. These teachers feel they are helping the students get ahead, and
helping themselves at the same time, he said. Bribes, teachers say, reach $200 for each
course a student is passed without proving himself qualified.
This means that many unqualified students are being given passing grades. The result
is that many of these students go on to college quite unprepared for the increased
workload they will face. A number of Sana’a University professors say that the reason
for the prevalence of student bribes to pass grade levels is due to schools not being well
fitted for classes, as they lack proper facilities, desks and chairs, teachers, and an
engaging educational environment. The lack of a good learning environment means
that students can’t learn effectively, and thus look for other ways to get through
school. “You cannot blame the students who have low grades for bribing the teachers.
Here Comes the Bribe
(Honesty Isn’t Always the Best Policy Abroad)
Moira Allen, a freelance writer wrote: “Sometimes global entrepreneurs face
hazards far more insidious than unfamiliar languages and customs.
One of the worst experiences of doing business abroad: dealing with corruption.
"Bribery is a common way of doing in a lot of places.” says Steve Veltkamp, president of
Biz$hop, an import/export business and consulting service in Port Angeles, Washington.
Veltkamp, 47, notes that bribery is most common in underdeveloped countries.
"Where basic jobs don't pay well, it's tempting for an official to ‘supplement' income
that way," says Veltkamp. "It's deeply ingrained."
Another contributing factor, according to Transparency International, an
organization that monitors international corruption, is the degree to which officials
perceive themselves as immune to any penalties for demanding and receiving bribes.
Transparency International lists the following as the top 10 most corrupt nations,
based on the prevalence of bribery (in order): Cameroon, Nigeria, Indonesia,
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Honduras, Tanzania, Yugoslavia, Paraguay and Kenya.
(Interestingly, the United States doesn't make the top 10 list of the least corrupt, which is
topped by New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden.) In terms of countries most willing to
pay bribes abroad, China tops the list-the United States comes in 10th (tied with
Germany) out of 19 countries.
Trafficking Corruption in the Philippines
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The case involved trafficking of young Filipino women and misuse of public funds.
Falsified “Artist Record Books” were distributed to dubious recruitment agencies, which
used them to tempt thousands of unqualified young women to work in Japan. They
thought they were going to work as entertainers, only to find themselves forced into the
sex industry. We estimate that the (public official concerned) was responsible for
deploying some 8,000 girls per month.
To gather evidence, we mobilized activists and NGOs, to encourage complainants
to come forward, and we worked closely with legitimate promotion agencies
responsible for representing and booking genuine talent. We even planted activists in
suspect agencies and posed as applicants to find out how the scam operated.
PSLINK filed a case against (public official concerned) in the Presidential Anti-Graft
Commission and made a complaint to the Philippines Ombudsman. Because he was a
political appointee, they also put pressure on the President, to ask why this man was
being kept in his position despite overwhelming evidence of corruption and illegal
activities. Finally, after months of campaigning, (public official concerned) was
dismissed from his position.
Based on the preceding write-ups about corruption, it is evident that it exists
extensively everywhere except, perhaps, at New Zealand, Denmark, and Sweden, the
top three countries named as least corrupt in the world of nations.
The cases presented here are intended to acquaint the students of the many
incidences of corruption that rears its ugly head in almost all places in the universe, in
order for them to be able to avoid similar events, as they hold their own place in
government or in business.
Of course no one can conclude that all people in government or in business are
corrupt. There certainly are more individuals who have integrity and honesty than those
who have already sold their souls to the devil. But corruption should be stopped. The
efforts of any one nation cannot do it. It will, perhaps, take the concerted, dedicated,
and focused actions of all nations to reduce to the minimum the incidence of this evil
that destroys men, society, and countries. It may take years to accomplish this singular
objective. But there is no other option but to move on and keep on, against all odds.
In the succeeding pages, various corporate scandals that happened in various
places of the globe will be presented. This is again for the consumption of the students
of today and of the succeeding generations, so that they can better understand the
world they live in and face the challenges of the future under a more enlightened
perspective.
Evidently, there is really a pressing need for every nation and every organization to
practice good governance and corporate social responsibility because the world must
fight corruption if it must survive the challenges of the coming years.
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