2024/12/19 by Adam Kovach · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Corruption and Economic Development #Political Philosophy and Ethics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/pub.2024.43
openalex publication_date 2024/12/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract Our contemporary understanding of political corruption draws from two different sources, a modern view that corruption occurs where officials follow improper procedures and a more ancient view of corruption as a systemic failure to live up to political ideals. The ability to shift between these views makes it easy for political partisans to locate corruption where it suits their political interests. Since accusations of corruption easily become challenges to the legitimacy of officeholders and institutions, there is danger in carelessness with the language of corruption. Awareness of these circumstances should lead us to be cautious with the language of corruption and to resist its slide toward becoming a mere means of political struggle.