Corruption is a worldwide phenomenon. The fallout from scandals facing major American companies has now reached the doorsteps of the White House.
Japanese companies too are facing recession and revelations of corruption. Reports from around the world speak of corruption involving ministers, senior government officials and prominent businessmen.
There is, however, great difference between the treatment of corruption in those countries and treatment in the Arab world.
The two cases are distinctly different. The first case diagnoses, analyzes and exposes wrongdoing and opens the way for reform.
In the second case, however, it remains something very vague and ambiguous. Details of corruption are well known to insiders. They declare war on it publicly but, behind closed doors simply stoke the fires and maintain the status quo.
Occasionally, high profile campaigns are launched to clamp down on corruption. Does the Arab public still believe what they hear? After all the publicity dies down, more often than not, it’s business as usual.
The level of corruption, publicizing it and how serious are its effects may vary from one country to another; it is insidious and it is universal.
There is a serious danger of ‘corruption fatigue.’ The more the campaigns to eliminate it, the less the public believes anything effective is being done. Many governments come to power publicizing their intention to stamp out malpractice only to sink in the mire of their own corruption.
This leads to the impairment of moral principles becoming a major topic of public concern and their reform becoming an ever-receding target for governments.
The main reason behind this failure in the Arab world could be found in the fact that corruption remains a chimera whose features and breeding grounds are not clearly defined.
All the Arab media do is echo empty meaningless statements on campaigns launched to stem corruption.
The true nature of corruption, where is it found, who is involved, how to fight it and how to effect reform, is never addressed.
The truth lies with those who don’t want to reveal it.
