Corruption Definition by David Jancsics

David Jancsics’ Three Approaches to Corruption

David Jancsics separates corruption into three sections in his paper, interdisciplinary perspectives on corruption. The methods are classified into three categories: relational-actor, systemic, and logical. The Rational-actor method falls into the first group. Individuals’ logical choices contribute to cheating in this category. Corruption is regarded strictly as business interaction. Neoclassical economics is synonymous with the corruption paradigm. The actor engages in wrongdoing because it is the logical thing to do in order to maximize personal benefit. There are only two actors at the micro-level: the customer and the handler. It is impersonal and only lasts for a brief time.

Structural Approach

The second approach that Jancsics talks about is the structural approach. Under this approach, there are social norms and structural arrangements which lead to corruption. Under this approach, corruption is viewed as a phenomenon embedded in a social structure. There are social factors that are beyond the individual. These social factors make the individual behave in corruptly. There are structural constraints that lead to corruption. In the structural approach, the relationship is between the collective entities and individual. Corruption is a product of collective processes.

Relational Approach

The third approach is the Relational approach. The approach examines social relations whereby individuals who take part in the corruption benefit from their associations. Individuals profit from the association with other people. It is non-material and goes for the long term. Corruption is an exchange network in formal organizational structures. In the relational approach corruption is an informal exchange behind the formal organizational structures. Corruption models for the relational approach are vertically structured and horizontally structured corrupt networks. The horizontal model emphasizes on corrupt exchanges where there is an intimate relationship among actors. Vertical model is whereby corruption takes place between unequal actors. It examines the illegal activities by emphasizing on interpersonal connections. Like non-monetary forms of exchange. The Horizontal model is whereby the social networks are based on long-term social relationships thus individuals can deal with inadequate formal institutions. Most of the people in this social network view their corruption acts as lending a helping hand to a friend. The network members circulate resources like bureaucratic favors and political support. Nepotism is one example of horizontal models of corruption. Nepotism occurs when people provide organizational positions to members of their kin. In the Vertical model, there is an aspiration of being superior to other people.

Amado Boudou’s Corruption Case

Amado Boudou was the former economy minister in President Cristina Fernandez’s administration. He was arrested for money laundering and racketeering. Money laundering has become widespread over the years (Chaikin and Sharman 31). The 55-year old faces illicit enrichments which can be traced back to 2009. The corruption accusations are since he got promoted to become the economy minister. In 2011, he became the vice president. However, he was not present in the public view limelight for the four-year term because of the corruption accusations against him.

His wealth had increased in a manner that could not be explained by the authorities. Boudou was required to explain the origin of $80,000, the Nunez Carmona estate and the apartment that he bought from his ex-girlfriend. Boudou is considered to be the leader of the illegal organization.

According to Jancsics’s article, the Boudou corruption case can be classified under the structural approach. The corruption was done at an organizational level. Moreover, the corruption case was that of money laundering which was a well-planned by Boudou and the illegal organization.

Works Cited

Chaikin, David, and J. C., Sharman. International Responses to Corruption and Money Laundering. Corruption and Money Laundering. Palgrave Macmillan US, 2009. 31-57.

Jancsics, David. “Interdisciplinary perspectives on corruption.” Sociology Compass 8.4 (2014): 358-372. http://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1190&context=gc_pubs Accessed 8 November, 2017

Reuters ”Former Argentine VP Amado Boudou arrested in corruption case.” Santiago times, November 4, 2017, http://santiagotimes.cl/2017/11/04/former-argentine-vp-amado-boudou-arrested-in-corruption-case/ Accessed November 8, 2017