Today is the International Anti-Corruption Day.
The relationship between corruption and generosity is often assumed to be negative: systemic graft erodes public trust, making people less likely to engage in altruistic acts like charity. However, researches occasionally reveal a complex phenomenon where, in certain contexts, a positive correlation emerges. This seemingly paradoxical link stems from two key dynamics: the cultural blurring of gifts and bribes and the rise of alternative giving in failed systems.
Myanmar consistently appears in the top tiers of both global corruption indices and generosity rankings. This paradoxical coexistence invites a deeper investigation into the contextual correlations that link these two seemingly contradictory indicators.
The Blurring of Gifts and Bribes-In many societies, the line between a gift (an act of generosity that strengthens social bonds) and a bribe (an illegal payment to influence a decision) is often blurry or culturally contested.
* Cultural Context: What is condemned as corruption by formal law or international norms may be viewed, e.g., in Myanmar, locally as a necessary, or even moral, act of “gift-giving” or “generosity” required to secure services or favor.
* The System of Reciprocity: In a highly corrupt environment, again as in Myanmar, officials may be expected to show “generosity” by providing jobs or contracts to relatives and friends (nepotism or cronyism) in return for loyalty or favors. This form of “giving” is a fundamental part of the corrupt exchange.
Alternative Giving in Distrustful Systems-When institutions are perceived as deeply corrupt and unreliable, two forms of generosity may actually increase:
* Direct Patronage and Support: Individuals often shift their giving from formal, government-linked charities or large NGOs (which they distrust) to direct, visible, and personal acts of charity. They become “generous” to their immediate family, neighbors, or small, faith-based organizations they know and trust personally. This is a mechanism for survival and resilience where the state has failed.
* Corporate “Charitable Bribes”: Corporations in politically unstable or corrupt environments may engage in high-profile politically-connected charitable giving (PCCG). These large, often legal, donations are masked as philanthropy but serve as covert channels of influence—a sophisticated form of generosity aimed at securing political access, goodwill, or favorable regulatory treatment, effectively replacing traditional, overt bribery.
In essence, while genuine, altruistic generosity suffers under corruption, the positive correlation arises from the increase in transactional generosity—acts of giving that are either part of the corrupt exchange itself or are a defensive response to a broken system. The generosity is high, but its nature is compromised by the underlying corruption.
#Corruption #Generosity #Myanmar