NCJ Number
152581
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1994) Pages: 319-337
Date Published
1994
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Noting that criminological analysis of corruption is rare, perhaps because this type of offending is regarded as a victimless behavior, this paper analyzes political corruption in Italy, with emphasis on the social harm it has caused.
Abstract
The analysis reveals that aspects of victimization are found mainly within the domain of civil and political rights. The discussion focuses on the erosion of these rights in view of controversial definitions of democracy. Corruption and aspects of victimization that corrupt exchange brings in its course are traced on the boundaries separating two different interpretations of democracy; that is, on the border between democracy and despotism. The analysis concludes that no basis exists for predicting the nature and degree of political change in the near future of Italy, because nearly all social groups participate in some sort of corrupt exchange. 78 references (Author abstract modified)