Dept Sem:Cultures of Corruptio

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

In July 2009, the arrest of dozens of New Jersey political figures accused of rigging real estate transactions prompted The New York Times to discuss the state’s persistent “culture of corruption.” The phrase has been employed to describe a quite diverse range of countries and cultures. This course will examine corruption in cross-cultural perspective, asking why it is so often attributed to “culture” and exploring alternative explanations. Specific cases will include the USSR, Nigeria, New Jersey, and the U.S. Congress. In addition, each student will write a case study of corruption in a “culture” of his/her choosing.