Question

Evaluate the foreign political ramifications of bribery (witness the scandals and resignations in countries such as Japan, the Netherlands, and Italy in the 1970s, not to speak of the tremendous political impact in the developing countries). Does corruption interfere with the foreign policy of the United States, exerting influence that may be counter to U.S. policy?

Answer 1

Apart from Socio- economic factors that affect a nation’s economic growth including its international stature, political factors play an equally important part. A stable government at the helm projecting a capability that it can face any crisis that arises—whether it is financial or political in nature is indeed is a positive sign for the country’s prospects in the international arena.

Due to the spread of globalisation, the economies are no longer independent in the absolute sense but are rather interdependent. This inter dependency is seen more in the case of the economic and technical aid extended by the developed nations to the developing nations in an attempt to reduce the growing inequalities at the global level. This also an objective to further the United Nations objective of world peace and harmony .

However, while developing countries like the US are attempting to strive towards this objective though effective foreign policies yet the inherent evils of capitalism like neglect of social welfare at the cost of mis allocation of resources towards the production of goods and services demanded by the market may lead to a divergence in the path of social welfare and may lead to arise of conflicting interests.

It could lead to the dominance of monopolist power which may invariably insist on profit oriented growth rather than the sustainable growth which is the objective of both the US foreign policy as well as the governments of the developing nations.

Dominance of economic value could lead to subjugation of human , social and moral values.

Corruption , the easy way out of tricky situations, and the solution to lure the bureaucrats , could actually lead to unforeseen adverse consequences for the hitherto welfare oriented policies of the US government. The US government’s foreign policy includes the active participation of all the branches of the US government – the judicial, executive and the legislature along with the immense participation of the advisory board of its National Security body.

In spite of active monitoring of anti-corruption elements by the US government, corruption from external agencies seeking US aid will divert the actual policies objectives of the US government. Hence the objectives of maintaining harmonious relations with its neighbours and other trade partners could be at risk because certain vested interests playing foul in the garb of the social evil called corruption.

Therefore the US government must enforce stricter inspection of such anti-social interests and also examine their need to divert the actual objectives and goals. The developing nations , in their need to become economically strong and gain the most from the friendly foreign policies of the developed nations could inadvertently be promoting such a group.

Hence it is necessary that the real objectives and the realisable goals along with the progress made until now have to be published and a candid and most diplomatic analysis of the road blocks faced have to be stated with due highlight being given to the evil of ‘corruption’.