Integrity, ethics and corruption (original) (raw)

During the last decades, corruption, a “social illness” has been spread to a number of countries all over the globe. Corruption is subversive of good governance, stable economic structures, stable legal systems and just and other structures because it replaces the normal rules which determine the outcomes of dealings between individuals, organisations, between organisations and the state and various commercial entities. It “undermines the fairness, stability and efficiency of a society and its ability to deliver sustainable development to its members” (Sampford,2006). The fighting and prevention of corruption is closely linked to installation of integrity, ethics, establishing the rule of law, consolidating security and building prosperity in our societies. A number of principles that characterise “good governance”, primarily the following: efficiency, transparency, accountability, avoidance of putting private interest ahead of public interest, loyalty, expediency and effectiveness. When we say integrity, it is as if we mentioned each of these principles. The word ‘integrity’ originates from the Latin word integritas and means indivisibility, stainlessness, honesty, reality, due diligence and other moral values of a person. Integrity of a civil servant and a state employee means that he/she has adequate knowledge and skills, acts ethically in accordance with the laws and morality and is not susceptible under the unethical and immoral (corruptive) pressure. Integrity of the institution refers to the method of work of the institution and its employees who work and act independently, impartially, transparently and fairly. By strengthening the integrity of both civil servants and institutions, the public confidence in the work of state authorities will be increased. One cannot talk about the integrity of the institution if there is no integrity of the individual, who knows and accepts that the interest of the institution should be above his/ her private interests (Komianos, 2010).