“A government, for protecting business only, is but a carcass, and soon falls by its own corruption and decay.” Amos Bronson Alcott

Introduction

In the world corruption is something that has spread and has fixed roots. It is an important socio-political issue these days. Corruption is just like a disease cancer which has spread everywhere and has no cure. Corruption did not come into existence overnight. It is a process that has been developing since years. It is something is corroding the entire world and the mankind.

There are a lot of definitions that can be given to Corruption. Corruption is any act that is done to give profit to the people who have the power and the authority by exploiting the common man. Due to corruption, the poor are becoming poorer and the rich are becoming richer. It is right of every citizen of the world to be free and independent. 

Bribery

Business is done by exchanging goods and services. If one of them has more power than the other, then the person who has more power will suppress and overshadow the other and may take advantage of this power. This is commonly known as taking advantage of the position you have or abusing the position. Bribery is an important term when we are discussing about corruption. When a person takes extra money to do a particular task whether legal or illegal then it is termedas bribery. (Tear Fund, n.d)

It is often thought that bribing is the only way to decide whether a person is corrupt or not. If an employee lies that he is sick but goes on vacation, then this act would also be considered as corrupt. He is in a way abusing his position for his own use. A bribe is different from giving gifts. If a person is attending the marriage of a politician and gives some money or anything as a token of love or respect, then it will not be termed as bribery. It will be a gift. However, if the same man asks for a favor in return of this money, then it will be termed as bribery.

corruption in the world

corruption in the world
 

It is important for every individual to understand that he/she should take unwanted advantage of the authority or power given to him especially the government officials. People who are rich and have contacts with the government officials can very easily get their problems solved. They can easily kill any one and roam freely around the world. This is because they have the power of money. There have been various cases in and around the world where the innocent people who are poor never get justice because the people who have the power are able to prove them innocent by adopting corrupt methods.

It is so common in developing countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh that a policeman would not punish those breaking the laws if they bribed them. Anna Hazare, the famous gandhian leader went on a hunger strike and fasted till the time the government of India did not pass the Lokpal Bill as per the people of the country. He fought against corruption and was to some extent successful in doing so. Anna was not the only person who fasted, there were people all over the country who were supporting him and were on hunger strike along with him. He was the only man who took the initiative against the wrong that was being done to the public. (TOI, 2011)

Various cases of corruption all over the world have been seen and it is a common proof that the common man or the public never gets justice.

A Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani was also accused as he failed to file corruption cases against the highest officials like the President Asif Ali Zardari. All these were punished after a long time and the court was to punish him. He was accused to have a lot of cases of corruption charged over him and also some of murder cases. (DNA, 2012)

Also former Prime Minister of Israel was found guilty for one of the three acquisitions that were charged against him. He had charges for doing fraud, and breach of trust, making false entries in the corporate documents etc. However it was a mystery that who actually filed a complaint against such a high official. (The Guardian, 2012)

Britain is considered to be country where strict law and order is practiced. They are the ones that say great words about nationality, integrity and the feeling of oneness in the country. The world telephone hacking scandal however revealed the truth. In this scandal two policeman of high rank have been fired, people with dignitaries have been arrested. (Reuters, 2011) 

Justice * Education

Justice

The people who are rich have the power of money and they have a very strong networking. This networking is established by doing one thing in exchange of the other. According to a survey, out of 69 countries almost 45 countries were found were corruption had its fixed roots. (New Internationalist, 2012)

There was a very interesting case found in India where a model Jessica Lal was murdered by the son of a renowned nominated Member of the Parliament. This involved many socialites and several prominent people. Jessica Lal was working in a restro-bar late night and due to shortage of liquor she refused to provide any to the rich brat. He out of anger shot two bullets out of which one went through her head and she died.

It was found that on the Day of Judgment every member present in that bar turned hostile. It concludes that the rich people can very easily buy people and have control over the judiciary of the country with the power of their money. However, Jessica Lal was given justice and the person who killed her was punished. She got justice after eleven years fighting for the same. This is how the common man gets justice. (Rediff News, 2010)

Corruption has spread like a disease and it is very difficult to pull it out. It has now become the habit of the people to be corrupt. People cannot stand in long lines and wait for their turns. They would rather take out some money and give it to the person so that he does his work as quickly as possible. Those who can afford giving this extra money are giving and those who cannot are standing in the queue waiting for their turns.

corruption in education system

Corruption did not even spare the education system. This is hampering our future because if such children would be given a chance in good colleges, they would not learn anything rather spoil the others also. The deserving candidates should get a chance so that become the future of our nation and hold high the torch.

In San Diego, five schools were charged against corruption for bribery. They have taking hundreds and dollars of bribery and were caught and prosecuted. (Huff Post, 2012)

To Conclude

It is believed that people can do anything for money which is not good for the mankind. This will remove the feeling of family and would remove the trust that people have for the people whom they elect to govern them and protect their rights.

Action can be taken against corruption but a part in every country gives fertility to corruption and hence every country has a certain portion that is corrupt. Till the time this portion is not removed and strict action is not taken against it, the corruption can never be removed.

There are a lot of people who bribe the middlemen so that they don’t have to pay the taxes as the taxes are a liability. Another reason of the corruption amongst the political officials is that they are not paid well and there is salary is meager.

In Sweden the corruption rate is quite low because there the high officials are paid twelve to fifteen times the salary of the normal man. The people are satisfied with what they are getting and hence they are less corrupt. (IMF, 1998)

If people will start improving on their own self and decide that they will not entertain corruption only then can we get out of this vicious circle of corruption.

In my opinion, corruption is very bad for democracy as it can lead to the capture of the state by special interests. In corrupt societies even free and fair election results count for little. Once in power politicians of all parties are likely to concentrate on enriching themselves, taking money from individuals and companies in order to promote their own interests rather than those of their voters or the country as a whole. 

Sometimes politicians can be bought outright, as when they are persuaded to change political party for financial reward. To avoid accountability to the electorate, such corrupt politicians then have an incentive to corrupt elections, by bribing the electorate with their own money and/or plotting to make the electoral process unfair. Not only is this unjust, it also creates contempt for democracy and makes military coups and other forms of dictatorship more attractive to many people. 

Finally, it is economically disastrous as it gives those in power the incentive and ability to continually create new laws and regulations which they can then exploit in order to extract bribes.

Corruption at any level or intent should be unacceptable, for momentary benefits we lose a bigger world. it hollows out any sect or community it inflicts. its propogation should be vehemently condemned and those who second this menace be brought to book.

REFERENCES

Tear Fund. (n.d). The Cost of Corruption. retrieved on 21 August 2012 from

http://www.tearfund.org/webdocs/Website/Campaigning/Policy%20and%20research/The%20cost%20of%20corruption.pdf

TOI. (April 12, 2011). Anna Hazare's fight against corruption: Battle won, war on. viewed on 21 August 2012 from

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-10/india/29402855_1_anna-tum-sangharsh-karo-civil-society-combat-corruption

Qasim Nauman & Faisal Aziz. (January 16, 2012). Pakistan top court challenges PM on corruption cases retrieved on 21 August 2012 from

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_pakistan-top-court-challenges-pm-on-corruption-cases_1638502

The Guardian. (July 10, 2012). Ehud Olmert convicted in corruption case. retrieved on 21 August 2012 from

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/10/ehud-olmert-guilty-corruption

Reuters. (July 20, 2011). Is Britain more corrupt than it thinks? Retrieved on 21 August 2012 from

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/20/us-pht-newscorp-britain-corruption-idUSTRE76J25L20110720

New Internationalist. (2012). Corruption around the world. retrieved on 21 August 2012 from

http://www.newint.org/features/2006/12/01/facts/

Rediff News. (2010). Jessica Lal Case. retrieved on 21 August 2012 from

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/apr/19/jessica-lal-case-11-year-long-battle-for-justice.htm

Huff Post. (2012). San Diego Prosecutors Charge 5 School Officials For Corruption, Bribery. retrieved on 21 August 2012 from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/5-charged-in-san-diegoare_n_1183962.html

IMF. (1998). Corruption Around the World. accessed on 21 August 2012 from

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/wp9863.pdf