July 27th, 2009
Aspects of Political Corruption
The definition of political corruption is twofold. The term is used when referring to those individuals who are involved of being corrupt, usually those in the higher levels of political office. It is also used in reference for the purpose of the criminal behavior, usually this refers to the act of committed crimes to secure a hold on that political power. It is the term referenced when speaking of group or private party enrichment’s, or for the preservation of power. In general both forms are used in connection. The two processes have played the role together, in the more serious scandals and political corruption cases throughout history. On one side is the accumulation of wealth and power, and on the other side is the misuse of the public sector’s money. Most of the past literature on political corruption has referred to the accumulation of power, so evidence of the misuse of money may indeed occur more that it has been reported on in the past.
Accumulation occurs when officials of the government abuse and use their political power to take from the private citizens or sector. Taking from the revenue of the government and from the entire economy as well. Embezzlement and extraction are two terms often used in describing this form of corruption. Bribes are solicited and secured, and is quite common in the form that relates to a country’s military. This affects the entire world, and usually involves the highest level politicians as matters of national security are often at stake. When the money of the private sector or the generally public is used for the purposes of the preservation of power, this usually is in the form of patronage and favoritism. Benefits are offered for continued support and loyalty and rivals are often times paid off. By offering benefits and showing preferences to some private companies, politicians can secure campaign and party funding. They buy their votes. Political corruption is found in every country in the world, but there are many agencies that are also fighting and investigating the criminal activity, in order to attain a world, as close to a just world as possible.

