Political Corruption and Domestic Security

Running head: POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND DOMESTIC SECURITY
Political Corruption and Domestic Security
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1POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND DOMESTIC SECURITY
As opined by Gregory (2016), political corruption has emerged as one of the major
threats that the different nations of the continent of Asia are facing currently which is
adversely affecting their domestic security in a substantial manner. Dwyer et al. (2016) are of
the viewpoint that the evil machinery of political corruption along with repudiating the very
notion of democracy also results in unequal distribution of power within the political system
of the different nations. More importantly, it is seen that through the usage of the various
forms of political corruption the politicians and the others in these Southeast Asian nations
are seeking power for their own sake rather than for the development of the concerned
nations (Balme and Sidel 2016). The net result of this is that the domestic as well as the
international securities of these nations have been adversely affected because of the high rate
of political corruptions in these nations. In addition to these, it is seen that the high rate of
political corruption which is prevalent in these nations not only limits the free will of the
citizens of these nations but at the same time creates a sense of insecurity among them
(Burns, Novick and War 2017). Furthermore, the high rate of political corruption also affects
the practice of the human rights or the rights which have been given by the constitutions of
these nations to the people because of the unequal distribution of power and also the manner
in which power is being attained by the individuals. This paper will analyze the manner in
which the high rate of political corruption which is prevalent in the various Southeast Asian
countries affects the domestic security of these nations and also creates a sense of insecurity
among the people.
Cubbage and Brooks (2016) have articulated the viewpoint that the notion of
corruption can be defined as the unethical as well as fraudulent or dishonest conduct or action
on part of those individuals who are in power. More importantly, as stated by Logevall
(2017), the primary purpose of those in power behind of usage of these unethical means or
the process of corruption is the attainment of their own personal needs rather than the

2POLITICAL CORRUPTION AND DOMESTIC SECURITY
improvement of the condition of the nation of which they are a part of. Furthermore, in the
recent times it is seen that various forms of corruption have prominence, namely, bribery,
dishonesty, double-dealing, misconduct, unethical use of power and others (Kerkvliet 2018).
Moreover, these different kinds of corruptions are being used for the attainment of different
ends, namely, political benefits, economic benefits and others (Tromme 2016). However,
Malesky, Gueorguiev and Jensen (2015) concur on the viewpoint that the menace of political
corruption has emerged as one of the top threats which is currently afflicting the stability as
well as the domestic security of the different nations of the world like Vietnam, Indonesia,
Thailand and others.
As argued by Fforde and Homutova (2017), the evil machinery of political corruption
can be defined as the process through which the government official or those in power for
that matter use the power that has been given to them or vested in them for the attainment of
their own personal needs. In addition to the government officials, the individuals or the
organizations to those governmental contracts have been given also take the help of unethical
as well as unjustified means for the attainment of more power and also the fulfillment of their
personal greed and desires (Godson 2017). On the other hand, Pleines and Wöstheinrich
(2016) have argued that only those acts or actions fall under the category of political
corruptions in which the governmental officials or the individuals who have been given
power on the score of their designation utilize their power or position for indulging in the
kind of activities that are derogatory to the interests of the concerned nation. Recent
researches clearly indicate that the evil menace of political corruption had negative effects on
not only on the domestic security of the nations but at the same time on the economic as well
as developmental prospects of the concerned nations as well (Goldstone 2018). This is one of
the major reasons for the various kinds of problems that the different Southeast Asian nations