Corruption has become endemic in China, especially during the 1980s
and the 1990s. From an estimated 20,000 cases of corruption under investigation
in the early 1980s, it has gone up to more than 50,000 in 1995. In 1996, China was ranked by the Transparency
International and Gottingen University
50th out of 54 countries from the most clean to the most corrupt. Only Bangladesh, Kenya,
Pakistan, and Nigeria were deemed more corrupt than China.
With these astounding data, there is no arguing that corruption has definitely
become a big issue in China.
Before delving into the political condition in China, it is essential to first
understand the dynamics of corruption
Integrated Model of Corruption
Structuring an environment where officials do not use their discretionary
power for personal gain is an inherent public administration issue. Previous
studies on corruption tend to examine micro or macro approaches in isolation.
Some theorists focus on the macro political and social forces that cause
corruption, without considering the micro situations that may be structured in
a way that encourage subversion of the law; on the other hand, other experts
stress the micro circumstances while ignoring their relations with the
surrounding economic and political context. In reality, macro and micro
situations collaborate in influencing corruption in any given country.
