№ 6 - 2014
Nisnevich Yu.A.
Public Power and Corruption: Socio-anthropological Approach

Presented and analyzed in the article are the results of an investigation of the influence of the human factor on the spread of corruption relations in the sphere of public power. According to the adopted investigative hypothesis, the extent to which corruption is spread in the sphere of public power is determined: 1) by the institutional quality of the public sphere and 2) by individual qualities of the officials realizing the public power and, concretely, by their being or not being predisposed to corruption relations. In order to analyze and to estimate the influence of public officials’ individual qualities on the extent to which corruption is spread in the sphere of public power, socio-anthropological approach was resorted to. It has been demonstrated that corruption erosion of public power is definitely connected with personal motivation of those who desire to take up political and administrative posts. Therefore, in order to counteract the spreading of corruption in this sphere, it is necessary to erect institutional barriers to protect public power against penetration and activity of those who desire to exploit it in favour of their own mercenary interests. One of the main lines of advance in the course of preventive counteraction against corruption in the sphere of public power is pursuit of higher quality of those who ”populate” institutions of public power, answering the latter’s demand for personnel. This may be achieved by: honest and transparent political competition at the elections; meritocratic approach to appointment and advancement of administrative personnel; depolitization of the activity of public officials occupying administrative posts; following the ethical codes, as well as the behavioral standards; prevention of conflicts of interests in the system of public power; practice of public officials and their natives laying down their financial and property status. Furthermore, the whole complex of institutional orders and rules directed on prevention and suppression of public officials’ corruption relations and corruption behaviour, may prove efficient only on condition that specialized internal and societal external control and superintendence of public power be constantly secured.