Ideologies of corruption

Narendar Pani

On ideology and discourse

Ideology as worldview
Ideology enters on the very ground floor, into the pre-analytical act ... with material provided by our vision of things; it embodies the picture of things as we see them.
Joseph Schumpeter

Discourse as systems of thoughts composed of ideas, attitudes, courses of action, beliefs and practices that systematically construct the subjects and the worlds of which they speak. Lokpal debate as discourse on law
Focus on legalities Emphasis on fear of the law not on conscience

Need for worldview based discourse

System without corruption

Private corporations

Morality

Law

Govt./ Parl.

Action

Civil Society

Forms of corruption
The world is like that

Morality

Law

Govt./ Parl.

Action

Correcting past wrongs

New America Foundation Open Technology Initiative Survey, 2010

Forms of anti-corruption
If there is no government, there will be no corruption The law is always right

Morality

Law

Govt./ Parl.

Action

Its not like this in America

Ideologies of corruption
The world is like that Correcting past wrongs It is not like this in America The law is always right If there is no government, there will be no corruption

The world is like that

Complete breakdown of all moral norms
Theft Environment Universal
Majority of society involved Electoral platform

Role of those in government

Ensure government plays no role Safety net

Not sustainable
Legal retribution Overexploitation of natural resources

Correcting past wrongs

Extreme exploitation
Untouchability

Equating exploitation
Backward castes

Social inequalities
Under-privileged Dominant groups
Religion Language

Perception more important than fact Reverse discrimination

Its not like this in America

Borrowed value systems Contempt for local values Influence rather than majority support Institutionalization
Civil society Corporate icons Media

Battleground of different interest groups

The law is always right

Credibility of judiciary Celebrating retribution Innocent until proven guilty Jail before trial Injustice for the innocent Discourse over justice

If there is no government, there will be no corruption

Moral hazard
Protection against risk leads to inefficient behaviour
Enron

Licensing Eminent domain

Reduction in role of government

Removing discretion Incentives to whistleblowers

Smaller government, more corruption

Greater magnitude of corruption after liberalization Not number of decisions but monetary value Governments role to regulate

The morality-to-law conflict

Challenge of law making at Independence
Democracy High illiteracy

Policy making elite

Planning Commission Prime Ministers Office Civil society
Through ruling party
RTI

Through opposition
Anna Hazare

Challenging the elite

Flaunting corruption

Equalization of offences

The law versus government conflict

Divergence in credibility Judicial activism Moral hazard
Government passes on risks of decision making to judiciary
Inefficient decisions

Harm credibility of judiciary

The corruption discourse versus electorate conflict

Media-led discourse
1991, Advertising led media
Low price Advertising sensitive circulation Aggressive competitive representation of narrow interests Enemy outside the media audience - politician

Political discourse
Alternative to media
Lalu Yadav Mayawati

Elections versus Media discourse