Governance and Corruption

This paper compares the Islamic and the western social scien­tific perspectives on corruption. Jt is argued that the emerging shift in social scientific thought in viewing corruption from "grease that oils the economic wheel" to a "menace that under­mines economic growth" has bro...

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Main Author: Zafar Iqbal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Institute of Islamic Thought 2002-04-01
Series:American Journal of Islam and Society
Online Access:https://www.ajis.org/index.php/ajiss/article/view/1968
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author Zafar Iqbal
author_facet Zafar Iqbal
author_sort Zafar Iqbal
collection DOAJ
description This paper compares the Islamic and the western social scien­tific perspectives on corruption. Jt is argued that the emerging shift in social scientific thought in viewing corruption from "grease that oils the economic wheel" to a "menace that under­mines economic growth" has brought rational understanding of the phenomenon much closer to [slamic doctrine. Where they differ is with respect to remedial action. The western approach focuses on governance and designing appropriate systems and institutions that gear information and incentives toward minimiz­ing opportunities and enticement for corruption. In short, it emphasizes constraints external to the individual. By comparison, Islam seeks to go beyond such constraints, and also instill in believers a clear "second-order" preference for non­corrupt behavior. lt recommends developing a firm belief in transcendent accountability, stresses character building through practicing moral virtues and shunning vices. In essence, much of the restraint comes from within through a moral renovation. rt is our contention that both emphases are important in eliminating corruption and that the followers oflslam and the West can learn from one another.
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spelling doaj.art-7a1811f414a1496f990cd5c865e31aff2022-12-21T20:05:33ZengInternational Institute of Islamic ThoughtAmerican Journal of Islam and Society2690-37332690-37412002-04-0119210.35632/ajis.v19i2.1968Governance and CorruptionZafar IqbalThis paper compares the Islamic and the western social scien­tific perspectives on corruption. Jt is argued that the emerging shift in social scientific thought in viewing corruption from "grease that oils the economic wheel" to a "menace that under­mines economic growth" has brought rational understanding of the phenomenon much closer to [slamic doctrine. Where they differ is with respect to remedial action. The western approach focuses on governance and designing appropriate systems and institutions that gear information and incentives toward minimiz­ing opportunities and enticement for corruption. In short, it emphasizes constraints external to the individual. By comparison, Islam seeks to go beyond such constraints, and also instill in believers a clear "second-order" preference for non­corrupt behavior. lt recommends developing a firm belief in transcendent accountability, stresses character building through practicing moral virtues and shunning vices. In essence, much of the restraint comes from within through a moral renovation. rt is our contention that both emphases are important in eliminating corruption and that the followers oflslam and the West can learn from one another.https://www.ajis.org/index.php/ajiss/article/view/1968
spellingShingle Zafar Iqbal
Governance and Corruption
American Journal of Islam and Society
title Governance and Corruption
title_full Governance and Corruption
title_fullStr Governance and Corruption
title_full_unstemmed Governance and Corruption
title_short Governance and Corruption
title_sort governance and corruption
url https://www.ajis.org/index.php/ajiss/article/view/1968
work_keys_str_mv AT zafariqbal governanceandcorruption