Corruption is the effect or corrupting someone or something, for the purpose of get advantages in relation to others by means considered illegal or unlawful.
Etymologically, the term "corruption" arose from the Latin corrupt, which means the "act of breaking apart", ie, decomposing and deteriorating something.
The corrupting action can also be understood as the result of to bribe, giving money or gifts to someone in exchange for special self-interest benefits.
Corruption is an illegal means of achieving something and is considered a serious crime in some countries. Usually, the practice of corruption is related to the society's low political education, which often complies with corrupt systems.
Corruption in politics can be present in all branches of government, such as the Legislative, Judiciary and Executive. However, corruption does not only exist in politics, but also in human social relations, such as work, for example.
Characteristics of corruption
In order to configure corruption, at least two actors are needed: the corruptor and the corrupted, in addition to the conniving subject and the irresponsible subject, in some cases.
- Corruptor: someone who proposes an illegal action for the benefit of himself, friends or family, knowing that he is breaking the law;
- Corrupted: one who accepts the execution of the illegal action in exchange for money, gifts or other services that benefit him. This individual also knows that he is breaking the law;
- Conniving: is the individual who knows about the act of corruption, but does nothing to prevent it, favoring the corrupter and the corrupted without gaining anything in return. The conniving subject can also be acted upon and accused in the crime of corruption, as provided for in article 180 of the Federal Convention of Brazil;
- Irresponsible: is someone who is normally subordinate to the corrupt or corrupter and performs illegal actions by orders of their superiors, without even knowing that these actions are illegal. The irresponsible subject acts more out of friendship than out of professionalism;
Corruption can also mean the distortion and debauchery of habits and customs, making them immoral or unethical, for example.
See also:meaning of prevarication.
Corruption in Brazil
In Brazil, a bill is being processed that considers corruption a heinous crime, as provided for in the federal decree that regulates Law No. 12846/13, which punishes defendants between 4 and 13 years of imprisonment, without the right to pay bail to be released, pardons or amnesty.
However, even with apparently quite strict laws to fight corruption, Brazil remains a of countries with major scandals involving embezzlement of public money, bribes and other actions of corruption.
One of the best known cases of corruption in Brazil was the so-called monthly, which was denounced in 2005 by then-deputy Roberto Jefferson (PTB-RJ), as a payment scheme in the amount of BRL 30,000 that were made monthly to deputies to favor interests party-political.
Petrobras Corruption
Another case, which had international prominence, involves the accusation of Petrobras corruption, Brazilian state oil extraction company.
According to the accusations, several political parties are involved in the scheme, including the Workers Party (PT), Progressive Party (PP) and the PMDB.
Types of Corruption
- Active corruption: when an individual offers money to a government official in exchange for his or her own or third-party benefits;
- passive corruption: when a public agent asks someone for money, in exchange for facilitation for the citizen.
Learn more about the meaning of Passive Corruption and Active Corruption it's from Box 2.
See too: Brazilian way.