ADMINISTRATIVE CORRUPTION

• NCJ Number: 43796
• Journal: Public Administration Review Dated: (MAY-JUNE 1977) Pages: 301-309
• Author(s): G E CAIDEN; N J CAIDEN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0117
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: American Soc. for Public Admin
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DEVELOPMENT OF THE REVISIONIST APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF CORRUPTION AS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON IS TRACED, MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE APPROACH ARE POINTED OUT, AND HYPOTHESES CONCERNING SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION ARE OFFERED.

Abstract

THE REVISIONIST APPROACH DEFINES CORRUPTION IN TERMS OF DIVERGENCE FROM A SPECIFIC NORM OF ACCEPTED BEHAVIOR, EXPLAINS THE EXISTENCE OF CORRUPTION BY REFERENCE TO SOCIAL MORES AND DEFICIENCIES IN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS, AND ENUMERATES CONDITIONS IN WHICH CORRUPTION MIGHT ELICIT APPROVAL RATHER THAN CONDEMNATION. ALTHOUGH THE APPROACH HAS LED TO MORE SERIOUS STUDY OF THE PROBLEM OF ADMINISTRATIVE CORRUPTION BY NONREVISIONISTS, EXAMINATION OF REVISIONIST ASSUMPTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS REVEALS SEVERAL MISCONCEPTIONS, MOST OF WHICH ARISE BECAUSE REVISIONISTS THINK OF CORRUPT BEHAVIOR IN INDIVIDUAL, RATHER THAN SYSTEMIC, TERMS. REVISIONIST CONCEPTS DO NOT ENCOMPASS THE SITUATION IN WHICH WRONG-DOING HAS BECOME THE NORM AND TRUST HAS BECOME THE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE. SUCH SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION IS FOUND IN MANY COUNTRIES AND JURISDICTIONS. AMONG THE DANGERS OF SYSTEMIC CORRUPTION ARE THAT IT PERPETUATES CLOSED POLITICS AND RESTRICTS ACCESS, PREVENTING REFLECTION OF SOCIAL CHANGE IN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS; SUPPRESSES OPPOSITION; PERPETUATES CLASS, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL DIVISIONS; PREVENTS POLICY CHANGE; BLOCKS ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM; DIVERTS PUBLIC RESOURCES, LEADING TO A STATE OF PRIVATE AFFLUENCE AND PUBLIC SQUALOR; AND TRANSMUTES TRADITIONAL VALUES INTO INAPPROPRIATE AREAS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.