The Unifying Aspects of Cultures

SECTION:

Central Asia and the Modern World: confrontation, dialogue or interactivity?

Londa Esadze (Independent Board of Advisors of the Parliament of Georgia, Tbilissi)
Cultural Aspects of Corruption under Transitional Economics: a Case Study of Georgia

The paper examines the problems associated with analysing and controlling corruption in the process of democratisation in case of Georgia. Transition involves a transformation in the formal political structures of the state and it invokes new norms and expectations for politics, yet only rarely are these norms and expectations widely shared among the political élites and broader populations of these states. Widespread corruption is one likely consequence, but its control depends very much on the precise character of the corrupt activity.

In the countries of the former Soviet Union, two sets of institutions-the informal one of corruption, and the formal one of democracy and market economy-coexist side by side.

In the state there exist different groups and clans that include the corrupt state officials together with persons involved in above mentioned illegal sectors. Considering all these factors and coming from their economic interests, these people are interested in maintaining the existing situation.

Since anti-corruption campaigns targeting individual officials only seem to work in countries in which the formal institutions of democracy and a market economy are securely in place, a more holistic approach is needed. It's not possible to combat corruption and conduct systemic changes against this monster without considering its cultural aspects.

THE UNIFYING ASPECTS OF CULTURES