Political Corruption In Beyond the Nation State

In "Politics and Corruption," Robert Harris argues that any analysis of political corruption focusing on the nation-state or on miscreant individuals has been rendered obsolete by developments in globalized finance and international organized crime. Rather poltical corruption involves the extension of the normal processes of politics into illegitimate areas of activity where self-serving individuals are able to exploit the gaps between different parts of a country's political system, or between different political systems on the international stage. In light of these considerations the book explores political corruption: its economic and transnational dimensions, as well as its links with organized crime, money laundering, people smuggling and the drug trade.

This book, combining scholarship with readability, shows that political corruption must itself be analysed politically. Spectacularly corrupt politicians - the exception rather than the rule - are usually symptoms, not causes, and much political corruption is simply normal politics taken to excess. But in a world in which anti-corruption strategies themselves are often thinly disguised examples of political corruption, the ways in which political systems address their own corruption are as varied and fascinating in character as crucial to comprehend. A valuable read for anyone studying social science disciplines such as politics, international relations, sociology, anthropology, criminology and public policy. As well as the global community of anti-corruption activists, professional politicians, police, business people and lawyers.

Political Corruption as a Concept 2. Political Corruption: The Literature Reviewed 3. Supranational Political Corruption 4. Transnational Political Corruption 1: The Global Political Economy of Drugs 5. Transnational Political Corruption 2: The Deconstruction of Civil Order and Disorder 6. National Political Corruption 1: The United Kingdom

Robert Harris