Defining Political Corruption

In: Political studies, Band 45, S. 436-462

Abstract

A specific instance of political corruption in New South Wales, Australia, is engaged to demonstrate the deep-rooted connection between society's understanding of corruption & politics. An analysis of the resignation of Liberal Member of Parliament Tony Metherall & his reappointment in the Liberal-controlled government, during the early 1990s indicates how defining political corruption is problematized by several factors, eg, greater reliance on the norms of local communities or extant legislation concerning political behavior. It is argued that definitions of corruption are contingent on competing notions of the character of politics. Discussed in conclusion are the relationship between incompetence & corruption, the functional nature of corruption, & the legacy of the Metherall case. J. W. Parker