POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT - A BACKGROUND TO CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

• NCJ Number: 64190
• Journal: Netherlands' Journal of Sociology Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (1976) Pages: 47-77
• Author(s): B J S HOETJES
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 31 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

THE ARTICLE ANALYZES POLITICAL FACTORS IN GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACIES WHICH MAKE THEM VULNERABLE TO CORRUPTION, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO PUBLIC CORRUPTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

Abstract

POLITICAL ACTIVITY CAN BE VIEWED AS A MEANS TO OBTAIN THE GOOD LIFE, AS A CONTINUOUS STRUGGLE FOR POWER AND RESOURCES, OR AS THE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GROUP POLICY. IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CONSTITUTES A VISIBLE ORGANIZATION WHICH ACTS IN A STRUCTURED MANNER TO CARRY OUT GOVERNMENT POLICY. ACTIONS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS SHOULD BE CHARACTERIZED BY LEGALITY, IMPERSONALITY, AND EQUANIMITY, WHEREAS POLITICIANS MUST RESPOND TO CHANGING OPINIONS, UNCERTAINTY, AND COMPETITION. CORRUPTION CAN OCCUR WHEN POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION OVERLAP, RESULTING IN DOUBLE ROLES AND TENSIONS. CORRUPTION CAN BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO SPORADIC VERSUS SYSTEMATIC DEPARTURES FROM THE NORM, BY VARIOUS LEVELS ON WHICH IT OCCURS, OR WHETHER EXCESSIVE POLITICAL INFLUENCE IS GIVEN TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP. IN PRACTICE, ADMINISTRATORS CANNOT BEHAVE AS TOTALLY IMPARTIAL EXECUTORS OF POLICY BUT ARE SUBJECT TO NUMEROUS PRESSURES. PERSONAL LOYALITIES, INTERNAL RIVALRIES, AND AN INCLINATION TOWARD SELF-PRESERVATION AFFECT OPERATIONS. THE POVERTY, PATRONAGE TRADITIONS, AND PLURALISM THAT ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES MAKE THEM PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO CORRUPTION. MODERNIZATION MAY DISRUPT TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS AND EXTEND THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE INTO MANY NEW AREAS, INCREASING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN POLITICIAN AND ADMINISTRATOR ALSO BECOMES BLURRED IN THE POSTCOLONIAL ONE PARTY SYSTEM. IN SITUATIONS WHERE CORRUPTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPARATUS IS A MAJOR MEANS OF PRESS111 FOR INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS, A QUASI-OFFICIAL MEDIATOR OR BROKER MAY PERFORM AN IMPORTANT ROLE. CORRUPTION CAN INCREASE SUPPORT FOR A POLITICAL SYSTEM AND REDUCE TENSIONS BETWEEN POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS, BUT IT ALSO PLACES AN ENORMOUS FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE ECONOMY AND UNDERMINES A GOVERNMENT'S CREDIBILITY. NOTES AND OVER 50 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.