Strengthening the Theory of Institutional Corruptions: Broadening, Clarifying, and Measuring
24 Pages Posted: 21 Mar 2013 Last revised: 9 May 2013
Date Written: March 21, 2013
Abstract
This essay suggests ways to broaden the concept of Institutional Corruption, developed by Dennis Thompson and Lawrence Lessig, so that it can more effectively apply to more institutional settings that do not involve elections or political institutions by drawing on the work of Malcolm Salter on Institutional Corruption in corporations and other non-elected bodies or domains, and by redefining what are now dichotomies (good-evil, corrupt-not corrupt) as the ends of continua. Second, the case is made for drawing on empirical research to develop a matrix measuring the extent, types and degrees of corruption or corrupting behavior, so that IC theory matures from illustrative examples to results from qualitative and quantitative research. Third, the institutional corruption of language, knowledge, and constructions of reality is a special focus, which complements studies of institutions themselves that greatly affects policy and chances for reform.
Keywords: Institutional corruption, corporations, medicine, politics, ethics
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