Is corruption the largest problem in the world? Why is global corruption on the rise, and what can be done to stop it? International researcher Jay Albanese, Ph.D., professor of criminal justice, answers these questions and more in a virtual Lunch and Learn presentation.
>>Watch video: “Why Corruption Is the Largest Problem in the World”
Professor Albanese outlines strategies from more than three decades of global crime fighting research, along with new approaches to cultivate ethics in criminal justice. Tracing the path of global corruption, Albanese explores rankings of the Corruption Perceptions Index and other key indicators. He notes that despite increased levels of education, bribery for goods and services from a range of countries continues to increase dramatically.
Albanese identifies a spectrum of eight categories that represent the overwhelming majority of corruption: bribery, offering, soliciting, receiving extortion, demanding or threats for official action contracting and procurement fraud, embezzlement, nepotism, official misconduct, obstruction of justice, and violation of regulatory laws.
“The reason why it's so important is that you know they undermine the legitimate processes of government and business,” Albanese shares. “They work against the interests of civil society, people like you and I.”
So why aren’t we making greater progress in fighting corruption despite growth in global education, structural oversight and more? How do you reduce the number of people looking to exploit opportunities for selfish and unethical behavior?
It all comes down to making bad decisions. Noting that the majority of education is fact-based, substantive knowledge, he advocates for greater emphasis on ethical decision-making and problem evaluation in school curricula.
“People are not born ethical,” says Albanese. “Those of you who are parents know you have to teach kids from a young age how to stand online, how to wait your turn, why not to push ahead … These are the principles for individual accountability, creating an ethical disposition.”
Morality, principles of accountability and assessments of self-interest weighed against the interest of others are vital to developing ethical compasses, especially at an early age. This forms a definition of ethics that encompasses what our personal obligations are to others. He notes that it is not possible to engage in a corrupt act without engaging in an unethical act.
“The bigger picture, of course, is teaching people: one, to recognize an ethical dilemma when it occurs. Two, know what ethical principles are and three, develop the courage to act on those principles. And usually that's all scenario-based learning.”
- Jay Albanese, Ph.D.
About Jay Albanese
Dr. Albanese served as chief of the National Institute of Justice's International Center, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, responsible for developing and executing transnational crime and justice research and evaluation, as well as coordinating with United Nations efforts in these areas. He is a past president of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, former executive director of the International Association for the Study of Organized Crime and served on the executive board of the American Society of Criminology, where he now serves as UN Liaison.
