Abstract: Four recent books, taken together, offer a wealth of important insights on how we might effectively tackle corruption. All of the books’ authors agree that there is something akin to a universal understanding of what corruption is, and all dispute the idea that corruption may simply be in the eye of the beholder. However, there are also sharp disagreements—for example over whether corruption is best eliminated from the top down, or whether bottom-up approaches are more effective. If the books share one weakness, it is that they do not sufficiently emphasize the importance of getting people to believe and feel that they have fair opportunities for good lives, even after institutional and legal reforms are made. The key to tackling corruption involves taking seriously the substantive link between actual fair treatment and the belief that fair treatment prevails.
Keywords: corruption, bribery, nepotism, regulation, good governance, fairness, impartiality, ethical universalism
The full review essay is available to subscribers only. Click here for access.
More in this issue
Spring 2018 (32.1) • Essay
Beyond the BRICS: Power, Pluralism, and the Future of Global Order
Dramatic changes in the global system have led many to conclude that the focus on the BRICS reflected a particular moment in time that has ...
Spring 2018 (32.1) • Essay
India and the International Order: Accommodation and Adjustment
India’s deep-seated anti-colonial nationalism and commitment to strategic autonomy continue to form the core of Indian identity. This, in turn, informs India’s partial ...
Spring 2018 (32.1) • Review
The Global Health Crisis: Ethical Responsibilities by Thana Cristina de Campos
In this book, Thana Cristina de Campos focuses on identifying the moral responsibilities of nonstate actors, particularly the pharmaceutical industry, in the field of global ...