No other period in the world best
describes corruption than ancient Rome. Corruption in Rome basically stems from
its own political, economic, and social structures. The Roman empire was
bequeathed with vast wealth, which fueled bribery, favoritism, and embezzlement
among officials vying for power. Patronage networks and nepotism was the order
of the day which then promoted cronyism. Since the Roman Senate had an absolute
power without punity it only further promoted abuse. In the end owing to
economic inequality, unchecked power dynamics, and a tolerant culture towards unethical
practices, contributed to the pervasive corruption that eventually led to the
collapse of the Roman Republic.
It was during the late 1st
century BCE, corruption became particularly pronounced. Personas like Julius
Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus faced allegations of corruption, bribery, and
manipulation of political processes. And The First Triumvirate, a political
alliance between Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, was marked as the peak of corruption in the Roman
Empire.
Meanwhile in U.S.A Inc., a young
country, that was established out of rebellion from a corrupt Europe has not
been spared of the disease called corruption either. Though generally ranks
lower on global corruption indices compared to many other countries, but USA is
not free from corrupt and unethical conduct. In the USA corruption takes
various forms, including bribery, fraud, embezzlement, and other forms of
misconduct. Both Public officials and private individuals have been indicted
over the course of American history involving scandals such as lobbying
influence, campaign finance concerns, and conflicts of interest.
One notable instance of
corruption in the early days of the USA was the Yazoo land scandal (1795–1796).
Georgia legislators were bribed to sell vast tracts of public land to private
companies at significantly reduced prices. The scandal exposed corruption in
land transactions and led to legal battles and political repercussions. The
dilemma of corruption in the USA today, lies in balancing its robust legal and
institutional framework with instances of public and corporate misconduct.
Striking a balance between effective enforcement, transparency, and preventive
measures has become a crucial element in maintaining public trust and the
integrity of democratic institutions.
In India however, corruption
stems from a combination of factors, including bureaucratic inefficiency, low
salaries fostering a temptation for bribery, political corruption intertwining
with business interests, lack of transparency in government operations, wide
economic disparities prompting corrupt practices for survival, weak law
enforcement fostering a culture of impunity, a complex regulatory environment
providing opportunities for corruption, cultural acceptance and historical
tolerance for informal networks, and the role of money in politics influencing
policy decisions.
Did the British Raj have anything
to do with the current quagmire in India, perhaps yes. Not with-standing the
fact that corrupt practice is an inherent human behavior that stems from greed,
which is an internal force, but via the British Raj much of the corrupt
practice in India got an institutional condonement. The British introduced a centralized
administrative system, concentrating power in the hands of a few, in which it
had opportunities for corruption and abuse of power. The British also employed
a policy of "divide and rule," creating divisions among various communities.
This strategy indeed had contributed to social and political fragmentation,
fostering an environment conducive to corruption. The colonial economic
policies, such as the extraction of resources for the British Rajs’ benefit,
definitely have contributed to economic disparities and a sense of
exploitation, potentially fostering corrupt practices. The British also did not
prioritize widespread education in India during the early part of their rule,
which limited the opportunities for social and economic advancement,
potentially contributing to conditions conducive to corruption. Finally, the
imposition of foreign legal and administrative systems did create a gap between
the rulers and the ruled, with potential consequences for corruption.
Though these colonial legacies had
contributed to corruption, but post-independence factors, such as political,
economic, and social dynamics, have played a significant role in the subsequent
state of affairs of the country. The relationship between colonialism and
corruption is multifaceted, and understanding it requires a nuanced examination
of historical contexts and local realities.
In addressing this multifaceted
issues, India and the Indian government need a comprehensive effort, which
includes legal reforms, institutional strengthening, transparency promotion,
and a cultural shift towards accountability.
After much neglect, I believe it
was PM Modi who has given priority to the eradication of corruption as one of
the main agenda of the state. Modi's government has implemented measures to
address corruption, such as demonetization, the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
for tax reform, and initiatives like Digital India. Further anti-corruption initiatives,
including the introduction of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, aim to strengthen
the framework, have been put in place to deal with this systemic problem.
However, the effectiveness of
these measures have been subject to much debate, and critics argue that
challenges continue to persist towards operationalizing it in order to achieve
the desired outcome.
Moral of the story, personal greed promotes corrupt actions. Be it at the highest level, or to the lowest echelon of socioeconomic position, when an individual is driven by greed nothing can stop the voracity of the desire that follows. Established rules and laws can only be a reminder but cannot be an absolute deterrent. Only self-awareness through personal convictions towards ethical behavior can make a definitive change towards establishing a society which is lesser burdened by corrupt practices.
No comments:
Post a Comment