Routledge Political Corruption in Comparative Perspective: Sources, Status and Prospects

Political corruption adversely affects the efficiency and effectiveness of governments, slows the rate of economic development and poisons public attitudes towards the legitimacy of the state. Affecting governmental and non-governmental organizations, developed and developing nations and millions of people's lives, it is a subject of great interest to students from a wide variety of academic disciplines. Using a concise, comparative approach based on original case studies Political Corruption in Comparative Perspective: Sources, Status and Prospects provides context and clarity on this complex problem. Cases analysed include countries and organizations as diverse as the United States, Brazil, Russia, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, NGOs and the United Nations. International contributors discuss the historical background of political corruption in a particular country, region or organization and focus on the causes and consequences of that corruption before offering overviews and opinion on how the problem might be addressed. The range of cases used ,each contributor's depth of knowledge and consistency of style applied throughout ensures that Political Corruption in Comparative Perspective: Sources, Status and Prospects is an important addition to the debate and fills a significant gap between academic study and general public knowledge of a truly global problem. Review 'A series of expert comparative essays describing political corruption in countries all over the globe, revealing the entry points - legal and otherwise - that facilitate enduring forms of corruption that plague even highly developed democracies. A long overdue study, it covers the US, Russia, China, Brazil and Israel, among others, with authors using authoritative case studies to reveal bribery, extortion, kickbacks, and other criminality common to all countries, with methods fine-tuned to fit the existing political cultures.' Ken A. Bode, Professor Emeritus, Northwestern University, USA What an eye-opener! This book offers a scandal-ridden overview of worldwide political corruption, and the challenges facing countries attempting to get on top of this cancer. It's a great read - whether you're a student, or just looking for an education in the underside of the world's political arena.' Paul R. Leonard, Wright State University, USA 'With its important grassroots case studies, the book enriches and deepens our knowledge of political corruption. ... the volume’s breadth and depth make it a valuable, informative and advanced introduction to the complex issue of political corruption.' Political Studies Review About the Author Charles Funderburk is Professor of Political Science, Wright State University, USA.