Transparency International (TI), the global watchdog on corruption has release its annual report. According report various countries have been given ranking in corruption. The organization has a system by which it accords marks on different factors contributing to or negating the existence of corruption in a country. A country getting lowest marks is considered to be most corrupt and vice versa.
According to the latest report of TI’s 2010 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), Somalia stands at number one position in corruption among the countries, whereas New Zealand, Denmark and Singapore are the least corrupt countries, achieving the highest marks.
Corruption is one of the most dreadful evils of society that hits directly at the progress and development of a country. The corrupt organs of state and the corrupt leaders / officials are not only a curse for their countries but also become instruments of defamation for their countries at global level. The corrupt rulers lose their credibility not only amongst their people but also among the comity of world community.
If we see the report of TI critically, we come across some interesting and amazing facts. There is close correlation between the level of corruption and some factors that merit consideration.
The countries with autocratic rule are more corrupt
The CPI reveals that the countries where democracy has taken its roots have less corruption. On the other hand the countries like Myanmar, Sudan, Chad and many Asian and African countries have a high ranking in corruption. On the other hand countries with good democratic traditions like Germany, Japan, Ireland and UK have less corruption.
The countries with low literacy rate are more corrupt
The countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zambia and Senegal fall in this category. The countries with better literacy rate like Taiwan, Spain, France etc are better off in this respect. Even Sri Lanka has ranked 91 just because of her good literacy rate, otherwise the country has been grappling with insurgency for 26 years.
War-torn countries tend to be more corrupt
The war-torn countries like Afghanistan and Iraq are one of the most corrupt countries because of this factor. Even Sudan due to its internal ethnic fighting falls in the same group. The countries like Poland, Macao, Hong Kong and Austria that remained unaffected by the wars or infighting have better ranking in terms of corruption.
A very interesting fact has been revealed about the ranking of the US. Although the country enjoys all the positive factors like democracy, good governance etc, but due to her involvement in war against terror, the country has lost her position among the top 20 least corrupt countries of the world, with 7.1 marks that is all time low since 2002. This is how the war affects a country directly or indirectly.
The countries having low rating in peace have high rank in corruption
The countries like New Zealand, Iceland, Denmark and Sweden that have high Global Peace Index also have very low corruption rating. This proves the fact that peace and prosperity go hand in hand. Corruption reduces with accountability that in turn promotes peace and vice versa is also true.
The countries that have come out of the socialist system are still more corrupt
Under the dictatorial rules the countries of socialist bloc failed to develop the state institutions that are vital for the accountability. Hence when these countries came out of the influence of socialism they still demonstrate a high level of corruption. Even Russian Federation has been ranked very low on this account, even worst tan Kenya and Ecuador. The reason is same; non development of democratic organs of the state that are essential for accountability of the rulers.
The countries with higher defense budget are high in corruption
The countries like Saudi Arabia and India should be having good ranking in CPI. Saudi Arabia is a rich having strict accountability system, but it spends heavily on purchase of military equipment with no plausible reasons. Similarly India has fairly good developed democratic institutions but her defense budget is far more than her needs. The countries like Japan and Switzerland spend very little on defense, hence rank in very low corrupt countries.
My Opinion
Why do people indulge in corruption? This is a question that has multiple answers. The people who have amassed lot of 
wealth still indulge in corruption, so poverty is not the cause its cause. The only cause is the weak moral character of an individual. The corrupt leaders of third world countries keep looting their national exchequer and pile up their wealth in foreign countries. There are examples of such persons who did it through out their tenure in the power but could not enjoy the fruit of their corruption at the end. Marcos, the former president of Philippines amassed billions of dollars in foreign banks but ended up living in the US in a secluded place at a monthly stipend of $1300 only and died in total despair. The former king of Iran Raza Shah Pehlvi was one of the richest persons of the world, but after he was thrown out of power by Islamic revolution, no country including the US was ready to accommodate him. He died in a state of dismay. However people do not want to learn lesson from the past and keep repeating the ugly practice of corruption. Only a strong character can have the power to withstand the lust of wealth.
The corrupt leaders do not want any transparent system of accountability to take root in their countries. They abhor an independent and impartial judiciary, as they rightly think that it will be the most formidable hurdle in the way of their corruption. They even detest the independent media for the same reasons. They do not think themselves to be accountable and answerable before the law. The recent history proves that only those countries have progressed that had independent and impartial judiciary and where the rulers submitted themselves voluntarily before the law. The glaring examples are of Singapore and Malaysia. All the developed countries must join hands to eradicate the menace of corruption from the third world countries, if they want progress and peace in the world.
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I was surprised that you’ve mentioned India only twice in an article on corruption. I agree to most of your points. Great article.
TI please help Nigeria out of corruption. The people are helpless. It is a worm that has eaten deep into the fabric of its existence. It perpetrators are ever unrepented.
This a great nation with potentials- numan and material- but for its corrupt leaders like Babangida and Obasanjo who caused much harm to Nigerians.
I believe you has the resources to unearth what these unpatriotic and undesirable elements had and still stealing. Please name and shame them. You owe Nigerian this.
By only name the country as being corrupt it is like a blanket that cover all Nigerias as corrupt. There millions of Nigerian who fear God and not corrupt. PLEASE NAME AND SHAME THE LOOTERS. – Aka (A nigerian living in SADC Region)
what a great post!
I will say one thing for the Nigerians, at least they Murder people to their face on Camera,Well maybe they do shoot them in the back but they know it’s coming. We However the USA, kill by neglect, and hidden lies, and hypocritical cover ups. Hiding in corners, and then smile, with” Oh! I care so much. “
Chairman Oba Mao & his so called party should pay close attention to #5 & how socialist countries top the corruption list. Just look at Russia Iran North Korea even Paris & Italy who have a huge socialist home front & big government. Not one country just named is civilized nor non corrupt.
Why isn’t Mexico in the article? Where does it rank on the list?
I wonder why Japan seemed to have been excluded, I believe the Yakuza is very much into almost every fiber of Japanese society. Are they legitimate now or just ceased to exist?
My limited knowledge of recent history, proved that organized crime syndicates, like the mafia, triad and others corner much of the loot from corruption.