Continuing crusade
Ivninderpal Singh

Corruption: How to Deal With its Impact on Business and Society
by Godfrey Harris. Viva, New Delhi. Pages 148. Rs 150.

Corruption in simple terms may be termed "an act of bribery" but in reality, it is much beyond that. Corruption is not only concerned with big financial deals or demanding money for doing something which is part of one’s duty, but also it’s a kind of behaviour in our daily life where we look for personal gains at other person’s expense. The motives to indulge in corrupt behaviour are varied, as some engage in it for financial gain, others to increase their power or control of an organisation.

Corruption: How to Deal With its Impact on Business and Society by Godfrey Harris discusses this universal problem in detail. The book has been divided into two parts—the first part deals with case studies in corruption while the second part comprises a number of events, which suggest the possibility that corruption is present. Each example consists of a situation and a solution. The reader, before reading the discussion of the facts, has to decide whether what has been described constitutes a corrupt act.

To highlight the extent to which corruption has spread its tentacles in society, Harris has divided case studies in corruption into six categories: charitable organisations, individuals, business sports, academia and government offices.

Though most of the case studies taken up by the author are in the American context, but one scam, which attracted the attention of the world, Nigeria’s 4-1-9 scam, also finds a place in the book. The scam is referred to as 4-1-9 scam after a section of the Nigerian Penal Code that relates to fraudulent means. Harris has discussed its modus operandi and how people who want to be millionaires overnight are trapped.

While describing an act of a plumber, Harris says that his employer told him: "Come back with a job three times the size of one quoted for the call." Is this an act of corruption? The reader can decide before he turns over the page to read the author’s opinion on it.

Though members of society condemn corrupt behaviour and term it immoral, it thrives around the globe in both developed and underdeveloped countries. Harris says: "When incentives—money, position, rewards—are high enough and the chance of detection or the level of punishment low enough, corruption abounds."

Terming a particular action as corrupt also depends on norms and values of a society. What may be a corrupt act in one social set-up may not be corrupt in another social environment. As Harris says: "A teacher is condemned for teaching dance to men and women in fundamentalist Iran. But it is considered as an art in other societies."

The terms associated with this immoral behaviour—bribery, conspiracy, embezzlement, fraud, racketeering, treason, nepotism, etc.—are also defined in the book making it easier for the reader to categorise various acts himself.

Harris also takes up "other" side of corruption by telling the story of a developmentally-challenged high school student Jake Potter and says that when an action poses no danger, is harmless and plenty of good comes out of it, it is not corruption.

Harris’ solution of corruption: A complete cure of corruption is probably a fantasy; controlling (it) to the point of limiting the damage it does to society seems very possible.

A must-read for Indians as it will help them analyse activities around them and introspect their own actions to channelise their resentment into a strong public opinion against corruption. A concerted effort by the responsible and enlightened citizens can surely bring down the corruption level.

HOME