Abstract This paper reviews and discusses political corruption. The paper uses the 2005 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) as a guide to the world's most corrupt nations. According to the paper, the country believed to be the most corrupt nation of all, is Haiti. The paper also examines the issues surrounding political corruption in Norway and goes on to review the solvency in each nation and its relationship / linkage to political corruption.
From the Paper "NORWAY: Norway is ranked #8 on the CPI, behind Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland. The CIA World Factbook records that in the 1960s, Norway discovered oil and gas in its offshore waters, which was a welcome addition to its list of plentiful natural resources (iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber and hydropower). Whereas in Haiti natural disasters come in the form of powerful hurricanes, in Norway there are far less destructive "rockslides" and "avalanches," the CIA explains. Also, as far as trade, Norway has the advantage of being "adjacent to sea lanes and air routes" in the North Atlantic region. "
Abstract In this article the writer examines the subject of corruption in China. The writer demonstrates that corruption can be shown as a structural issue. The writer suggests corruption arose due to the transition at the time of the reform into the new China. The writer notes that the contradictions inherent in this transition can be seen to have been the causes of the corruption that now runs rampant in China. Further, the writer claims that the extent of the corruption problem in China is reflected by the enormous economic disparities that are emerging.
From the Paper "It is widely acknowledged, both within China and outside of it, that corruption is rampant in China. This is often perceived as primarily a cultural or moral issue. However, it can be shown that corruption is a structural issue. It has emerged because of the reform-era transition from the old China to the new China."
Abstract This paper presents a brief discussion of political corruption and its corrosive effects upon three nations: Canada, the United States and Mexico. The paper looks at the background situation in each land as well as the impact of corruption upon each. Finally, the paper also offers some possible solutions that might allow each nation to escape from under the cloud of political corruption and dishonesty. In the end, it emphasises that a corrupt political system ultimately means a dangerously dysfunctional democratic one.
Abstract This paper discusses how over the last decade there has been much discussion about the issue of corruption in the public schools. Arrests, grand jury indictments and massive financial audits have occurred in order to attack this problem across the nation. The paper further discusses how while there are those that suggest that corruption is only made to be such a gigantic problem because of media involvement in specific events, the evidence indicates that corruption is a national problem. Snell (2004) reported that the Roslyn School District of Long Island, New York first identified a national issue related to corruption in the public schools (sec. 1). At the Roslyn School District the "former school superintendent Frank A. Tassone and senior administrator Pamela C. Gluckin were each charged recently with stealing more than $1 million from the district".
Abstract This paper discusses the idea that there can be little doubt that corruption is a serious problem which affects many people on many different levels, economically, socially and certainly politically. The paper briefly reviews the human toll associated with political corruption along with providing a thumbnail sketch of how this writer knowledge of corruption has altered the way he views politics. The paper further explores how this now rather jaded view of politics impacts his political participation and impacts also the political participation of others.
Abstract This paper gives a factual account of the development of police corruption to the peak it is at today. It speaks of the social contract by which police are to abide, remaining small and dedicated to preserving the safety and law of the land. However, explains the author, as time went on the police force came to be increasingly relied on as an instrument of political and racial power. Recently, police brutality is especially directed to certain American racial and political minorities. This paper concludes that riots and outbursts against police brutality from the minorities will continue until the government puts an end to police corruption.
From the Paper "America's founding fathers were militant revolutionaries. This nation was built upon social contract theory, the idea that the government exists by the will of the people and that they are obligated to obey only so long as that government operates in a moral fashion and in the best interests of its subjects. For many years the police forces of this nation followed the spirit of a social contract, remaining small and dedicated to preserving the safety and law of the land. However, as time went on the police force came to be increasingly relied on as an instrument of political and racial power. World War I saw the beginning of the police as an anti-protest and anti-civil rights weapon. Their roles in putting down political and racial protest came to maturity during the 1960s, as they turned their fire against war protests and race riots. In recent years, the blatant racist and political nature of police power has hidden behind a shield of anti-terrorist and anti-drug action. The ACLU writes that, ?From the outset, the war on drugs has in fact been a war on people and their constitutional rights, with African Americans, Latinos and other minorities bearing the brunt of the damage.? Racial profiling and police brutality daily threaten the lives of American racial and political minorities, while the government turns a blind eye. ?The see-no-evil policy of the feds toward police violence comes at a time when the number of police abuse complaints has soared nationally. The Department gets about 15, 000 complaints yearly.? "
Abstract From the beginning to end there is corrupting force of power in Shakespeare's play, "Hamlet". It begins with Hamlet seeing the ghost of his father who asks him to obtain vengeance for his death. It ends with all the main characters of the play dying. Each act points toward the goal of Hamlet to get vengeance for his father's death even when Hamlet pretends to be mentally ill. The character of Hamlet is one of strength and perseverance that is determined to obtain his goals regardless of whom may be hurt in the process. Each act in the play shows how the corrupting force of power leads to the final end as Claudius dies.
Abstract This paper discusses why the constitutional checks and balances system is of such vital importance. It contends that Nixon's criminal presidency proved that power does corrupt, and that absolute power does corrupt absolutely. The author of the paper agrees with James Madison's opinion that in asserting that men are not angels, citizens are best served by a government in which power is divided and a system of checks and balances is established.
From the Paper "In relating Richard Nixon's fall from power to Lord Acton's and James Madison's statements about the corrupting influence of power, it is evident that Nixon's abuses of power provide a powerful example of why our constitutional checks and balances system is of such vital importance. Nixon's criminal presidency proved that power does corrupt, and that absolute power does corrupt absolutely. Consequently, James Madison was correct in asserting that because men are not angels, citizens are best served by a government in which power is divided and a system of checks and balances is established. James Madison understood that constitutions serve the purpose of limiting governmental power by establishing defined limits to what governmental entities have the lawful right to do."
Abstract This paper explains that the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) makes it illegal for a U.S. person to make a corrupt payment to a foreign official to secure or retain business. The author points out that this act has an impact on U.S. commerce because companies with considerable foreign sales must have an effective FCPA compliance auditing program. In addition, the paper relates that the FCPA potentially is applicable to any individual, firm, officer, director, employee or agent of a firm and any stockholder acting on behalf of a firm.
From the Paper "The case of Lockheed Martin Corp's Proposed Acquisition of Titan Corporation: In September 2003, Lockheed Martin Corp declared its plans to take over Titan Corporation, a defense contractor based in California for $1.8 billion approximately. As per the acquisition agreement entered into between Lockheed and Titan, the acquisition was to be completed by March 2004 at the latest. In keeping with Lockheed's routine pre-acquisition due diligence into Titan, however it was found that Titan had engaged in a lot of potential FCPA violations."
Abstract In this article, the writer examines how stress affects policemen. Further, the writer discusses how such stress can lead to corruption among police members. The writer also discusses that the police, narcotic officers, sheriffs, and other types of law enforcement often struggle in making decisions that determine life and death.
From the Paper "In the movie Rush, the female undercover narcotics agent sits curled up in a corner so strung out on heroin, she can't tell what's real or hallucination". What causes a good narcotic agent or policeman to become a corrupt one? What relationship does stress have in regards to police corruption? These questions are important in determining what types of help or services need to be offered to policemen so that they do not become corrupt ones."
This paper unravels and examines the mechanics of corruption and the ways to fight it. It then offers solutions to the growing body of government and corporate organizations trying to fight it.
Abstract This paper discusses how corporations must create a corporate culture that refuses bribe requests and establish clear corporate codes that employees unwaveringly adhere to. They must also assure managers that the company will back them when they refuse to pay. The paper explains that the potential, in terms of criminal liability, skewed relationships, lost contracts, disqualification from government contracts, loss of reputation is simply too great to ignore. Because bribery is illegal, it is conducted behind closed doors, with those involved expending time and resources to keep their secret. It discusses how companies also face the very real possibility of being pushed to pay more and more bribes as their reputation as a bribe-payer spreads. The writer argues that there are international trade implications surrounding corruption - corruption degrades markets, and increases transaction costs. Corruption also drastically affects economic development by causing a mis-allocation of resources. But more damaging is the fact that in endemically corrupt systems, regular people are not getting served by the government; they don't trust the government so they don't interact with the government. The paper concludes that third world countries suffer the most at the hand of corrupt business managers and politicians - as companies strive to eliminate corruption, economic globalization for all countries will no doubt improve.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Historical Background of the Importance of Business Management
Direct Effect of Global Corruption on Business Management
The Emerging Global Anti-corruption of Management
Global Business Management Leadership Practices & Studies
Motorola
General Electric (GE)
Corruption in Third World Countries
Globalization in Third World Countries
Corruption and Business Management
Future Measures
Bibliography
From the Paper "Increasing, in many parts of the world, companies and governments alike have recognized that corruption raises the costs and risks for doing business. Corruption has a corrosive impact on both market opportunities overseas and the broader business climate. During the last 10 years, dramatic new imperatives have emerged for companies to take action against corruption and bribery. Once viewed by many firms as an awkward but necessary requirement of doing business, corruption and bribery are emerging instead as a form of business malpractice. Corruption also deters foreign investment, stifles economic growth, and undermines legal and judicial systems. The risks of exposure have become greater, the costs of exposure more substantial, and a compelling body of evidence demonstrates that engaging in corruption and bribery damages company integrity, degrades the business environment, and fails to create enduring competitive advantage.
As a result of this problem, and to obtain a competitive advantage in the global markets of the twenty-first century, a growing number of businesses are taking proactive steps to detect and prevent corruption. With respect to the emerging international anti-corruption environment, the unifying concept in all of the global and regional processes is that effective action to prevent, detect, and punish corruption must be taken by each individual government and company. Leadership companies have responded to these imperatives by establishing comprehensive anti-corruption and bribery programs that include strong written policies, extensive training, and rigorous auditing and internal controls. In the later 1990's, a consensus emerged among businesses, governments, academics, and ordinary citizens that bribery and corruption are not defensible in either economic or cultural terms. Recent times have shed light on a number of companies that have experienced serious corruption and bribery incidents and have suffered reputation damage and enforcement actions as a result."
Abstract In today's world, where there has been an emergence of global markets, the issue of political corruption needs to be the focus of the international community. Various countries have fallen victim to political corruption; though the type and extent of corruption may vary from system to system, none are safe from political corruption. This paper discusses and reviews several theories that have been offered on the issue of political corruption. Using comparative analysis, it examines political systems prone to corruption and, more importantly, refutes any excuses for the use of political corruption.
From the Paper "?All the crows in the world are black.? A common Chinese proverb, this statement metaphorically communicates the impact that political corruption has left on society. Though corruption and its many forms are ancient, the study its self ?is primary a late twentieth century phenomenon.? As more and more people join the war against corruption, numerous theories and/or opinions (myths) are continually introduced. It is the media's job to convey the "hows" and "whys" of political corruption, which can sometimes be quite overwhelming for most people. Many academics and scholar alike have been generous in offering their definitions of political corruption. Some have argued that there is in fact no true or false definition. As Robert J. Williams puts it, ?A definition of corruption, or anything else, is like a proposal of marriage; it may be accepted or rejected but the proposal itself cannot, in any meaningful sense, be said to be true or false.? "
Abstract Government corruption can have wide-ranging and far-reaching negative effects on both the political and economic development of any country. This paper explores the effects of government corruption in Europe, including the country of Greece, and looks at how the more common effects of government corruption include a sluggish economy where resources are diverted away from societal projects toward government operations. It also examines how widespread government corruption can also discourage domestic and foreign investment, as has been the case in many European countries, including Greece.
Outline
Introduction
Corruption: An Overview
What Causes Corruption?
Direct Effects of Corruption on Politics and the Economy
Conclusions
From the Paper "When corruption is tolerated within an economy it can also have negative effects on the political and economic development. For example, government corruption can shift government spending from positive growth and social affairs toward spending on unnecessary programs or low quality investments related to the infrastructure of the government (Mikessel, 1995:65). Government officials often take bribes that persuade them to spend money on low quality investments that are beneficial for personal gain rather than the gain of the country or economy as a whole."
Abstract This paper examines how understanding the extent of corruption, as it has been exposed by globalization, is important because it allows us to better understand consistent underdevelopment in Third World nations, such as Egypt. It shows how an analysis of financial corruption in Egypt and the country's resistance to change versus the efforts toward the political and economic reform of the country by external powers, underscores that the country's problem is not economic poverty, but corruption and misuse of foreign aid funds and national resources. After establishing the connection between globalization and corruption, the main argument is that the high level of corruption in a country like Egypt proves the necessity of enforcing international anti-corruption laws, thus, removing a significant obstacle to development.
From the Paper "In "Politics of Corruption," Patrick Fitzsimons discusses corruption within the framework of globalization. He begins his article by referring to the characteristics and concerns of the new global economic and political system, from the concern with multiculturalism, to terrorism, to economic liberalism, and notes the meaning and importance of these new concepts and concerns. According to Fitzsimmons' argument, their importance lies in the fact that they effectively define the thoughts and ideologies of the current political and economic environment."
