Corruption, Capitalism and Democracy

Corruption is an ever present part of political life. In this study of the phenomenon, John Girling demonstrates that corruption does not disappear as countries develop and modernize, but rather that the corruption takes on new forms. The author illustrates from case studies the three dimensions of the modern collusive-corrupt system: that is functional (economic) corruption, dysfunctional (political) corruption, and corruption that is offset by normative strengths, as in civil society. He concludes with policy prescriptions that require, not more "neo-liberalism" according to the values of the market, but more democracy. Corruption, Capitalism and Democracy describes how such corruption is damaging to democracy and its institutions, but that it is checked by the ideal of citizenship expressd in civil society. As such it is an important and very relevant study of the development of political corruption.