Political corruption,
the corruption of politics
and the politics of
corruption
,Lecture aims
1) To explore the different ways in which
political corruption
• has been approached in the secondary
literature
• could be conceived in the pre-modern
period
2) To explore the ways in which anti-
corruption is itself a politicised process
3) Relate these to the later Stuart/early
Hanoverian period on which we shall be Walpole supporting the corrupt influ
focusing in the seminar Crown but screening this from the pu
politicians’ attempt to tear a hole an
, Political scientists defining political
corruption
• 1) public office/public interest. ‘Corruption is the abuse of
power by a public official for private gain.’
• What type of public official?
• ‘The abuse of entrusted power by political leaders for private
gain, with the objective of increasing power or wealth’ [Robin
Hodess, Transparency International: Global Corruption (2004), p.11]. Grand
corruption. Elections; political parties; separation of powers;
accountability.
• Rothstein concurs with Oscar Kurer in stating that ‘corruption
involves a holder of public office violating the impartiality
principle in order to achieve private gain.’ [Kurer, ‘Corruption: An
Alternative Approach to Its Definition and Measurement,’ 53 Political Studies (2005) 222–
39]
the corruption of politics
and the politics of
corruption
,Lecture aims
1) To explore the different ways in which
political corruption
• has been approached in the secondary
literature
• could be conceived in the pre-modern
period
2) To explore the ways in which anti-
corruption is itself a politicised process
3) Relate these to the later Stuart/early
Hanoverian period on which we shall be Walpole supporting the corrupt influ
focusing in the seminar Crown but screening this from the pu
politicians’ attempt to tear a hole an
, Political scientists defining political
corruption
• 1) public office/public interest. ‘Corruption is the abuse of
power by a public official for private gain.’
• What type of public official?
• ‘The abuse of entrusted power by political leaders for private
gain, with the objective of increasing power or wealth’ [Robin
Hodess, Transparency International: Global Corruption (2004), p.11]. Grand
corruption. Elections; political parties; separation of powers;
accountability.
• Rothstein concurs with Oscar Kurer in stating that ‘corruption
involves a holder of public office violating the impartiality
principle in order to achieve private gain.’ [Kurer, ‘Corruption: An
Alternative Approach to Its Definition and Measurement,’ 53 Political Studies (2005) 222–
39]
