Anthropological Corruption In Denmark

“Ironically, the factors that make a country a less cold and indifferent place may also be inappropriate in the modern state”. Discuss the anthropological insights of corruption provided by Prakash Reddy and others.

Interest of anthropologists to the problem of corruption is caused by a necessity to understand roots and patterns of the phenomenon (Sissener 1). Indian anthropologist, Prakash Reddy, conducted his research in Denmark and tried to understand the socio-cultural patterns of behavior among Danish citizens (Andkjaer 2). In his perspective, inhabitants of Denmark were cold and indifferent; however, they displayed an adherence to arm’s length principle, which implies uncorrupt relationships between government and private-sector representatives.

Doctors were widely viewed as having neither the time nor energy to pay close attention to patients’ concerns”

Therefore, corruption in Post-Soviet health care system is caused by inability of government to provide decent conditions of labor to doctors and, as a result, adequate treatment for patients. Nevertheless, it doesn’t fully justify the lack of moral responsibility among the

Firstly, it was identified that performing anthropological study on corruption is a peculiar, but complex task, because people do not like to confess their faults, especially on subjects which might lead to legal responsibility and anthropologists themselves do not want to shame or put under risks their respondents or own career perspectives. This explains why accounts on anthropological roots of corruption are not numerous. On the example of Post-Soviet health care, it was identified that sometimes people do not consider corrupt actions as bribery. Gifts and extra-payment for doctors might be perceived as a crime from governmental perspective, but as a gratitude and fair payment for one’s professionalism and labor. Secondly, on the example of Indian community, it was identified that in some cultures people feel that they have a moral obligation to help relatives and friends, even if this requires illegal actions. Finally, corruption can be a rudiment from times when it was normal to pass property to relatives and make networks of collaborators. Similarly, when mafia was active, its representatives were used to follow interests of their families and clique first of all. These conclusions do not justify corruption, but they help to see the roots of corruption and patterns that follow. Probably, this knowledge could be applied in order to eliminate