The Concept of Corruption: Theoretical Perspective

The word corruption in the most general context denotes the “perversion of anything from an original state of purity” and defined by moralists as “to change from good to bad; to debase; to pervert” (Leys,1965: 216). The Oxford English Dictionary defined that “Perversion or destruction of integrity in the discharge of public duties by bribery or favor; the use or existence of corrupt practices, especially in a state, public corporation, etc” (Lodge,1999:57). Corruption occurs “when an individual illicitly puts personal interest above those of the people and ideals he or she pledged to serve” (Klitgaard, 1988:40). The point must be made that corruption manifests itself in all political systems, from communist to capitalist, authoritarian to democratic. Alatas notes that corruption affects all classes of society all state organizations, monarchies and republics all situations, in war and peace all age groups both sexes and all times, ancient, medieval and modern” (Alatas,1990:3). In a democracy, corruption is particularly offensive. The corrupt act inherently undemocratic as it involves the exercise of a public duty contrary to the wishes of the electorate who have determined the duty and who employ and pay the relevant official to perform that duty properly.