I came across a piece on corruption and its prevalence in some societies. Corruption creates a drag on the economy and limits human capital development. It affects quality of life, weakens competitiveness, and erodes trust. Even though it is widely recognized as a net detractor, corruption can sometimes become normalized, making it important to consider both its short- and long-term risks. The following is a method of understanding how corruption and hate may function and some of the benefits of good governance.
The Story of the Clan is a philosophical tale about moral conscience, where corruption and hate shape decision-making and harm the wider community. It is a reflective piece meant for contemplation, best taken with a grain of salt. One can switch around the elements and come to a different understanding and conclusion. Historically at various times and places human rights, civil rights, and justice sometimes have been defined by in-group and out-group dynamics. Racial and religious prejudices influenced who was deemed worthy of justice and who was excluded through hate narratives (....almost always the victim's fault because it requires no accountability or change.). In such contexts, witnesses and whistleblowers were often sidelined or harmed to protect the in-group. Pointing out or reporting corruption can lead to open retaliation in life, career, and safety (Threw in a touch of extremism for good measure.).
Some philosophical considerations...
As a hypothetical thought experiment based on some of the worst aspects of human behavior, the story raises questions about what happens if the normalization of corruption spreads more widely. Would it affect economic performance, human capital development, or social progress? Could a society remain competitive in the long run if corruption takes too strong of a root? The evidence strongly suggests not. Research consistently shows that in societies where corruption is normalized, we see weaker economic performance, lower respect for human rights, greater social division, and more mistreatment between groups. Resources are misallocated for the benefit of insiders and leadership becomes defined by specific group gain and group loss versus win-win that benefits wider stakeholders.
The accompanying publication shows levels of corruption around the world. Consider why some countries experience higher levels than others. Possible factors include the normalization of bribery, racial or tribal hostilities, or entrenched nepotism. There are other reasons as well. Greater awareness of the dangers of corruption and hate highlights their damaging impact on society and reinforces the importance of upholding shared values and ideals (In Theory).
*The Story of the Clan is a philosophical story as a learning thought experiment.
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