Michael Johnston, a political science professor at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y., earned the prize for ideas he set forth in his 2005 book, "Syndromes of Corruption: Wealth, Power and Democracy."
Corruption can take different forms depending on a country's political and economic patterns, Johnston says. The practice of using wealth to seek influence is more common in the United States, Japan and Germany, while forming cartels to protect the elite is more typically seen in Italy, Korea and Botswana.
In Russia, Mexico and the Philippines, countries with liberal economies and weak civil societies, fair market competition is even riskier. But the worst type of corruption -- the plundering of society by those who retain absolute power -- is nearly always seen in countries with growing economies and weak institutions.
Understanding how corruption develops in a particular country can help stop it more effectively, says Johnston, whose work was chosen from among 50 nominations.
"Corruption is a pervasive global problem that undermines economic and political systems," said Rodger Payne, a UofL political science professor who directs the award. "Johnston's approach is particularly useful because it puts forward a practical agenda for reform."
A Fulbright senior specialist since 2006, Johnston also directs Colgate University's Division of Social Sciences. He has done extensive consulting throughout his career in the field of public policy, helping organizations such as the United Nations, U.S. State Department, World Bank, World Resources Institute and U.S. Agency for International Development.
He also has been a visiting scholar at the University of Glasgow, University of York, University of Durham and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and was an external examiner for Hong Kong University's Graduate Program in Corruption Studies.
The Grawemeyer Foundation at UofL awards $1 million each year -- $200,000 each for works in music composition, ideas improving world order, psychology, education and religion. Winners of the other Grawemeyer Awards also are being announced this week.
For more details, call Rodger Payne, 502-852-3316, or see www.grawemeyer.org.
Source: University of Louisville
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
Putting principles before profits
This blog will be on holiday from Dec 15 2008 -Jan 12 2009!
