“A Prince who wishes to remain in power is often forced to be other than good. When the group whose support he deems vital to his survival is corrupt – be it the common people, the soldiers, or the nobility – he must follow their inclinations in order to satisfy them. In such a case, good deeds become his enemies.”
– Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince
The history of corruption is as old as the history of government. Although the concept of corruption can invoke a variety of thoughts, it is most appropriately defined as the exercise of official powers without regard for the public interest. Corruption, as defined, does not exist without variance in all political systems. While many countries experience high levels of “conventional corruption,” others, especially developed countries that have successfully implemented measures to combat conventional corruption, are more likely to have problems with “unconventional corruption.”
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