Corruption Issues in Colombia Analysis Essay

Indian Culture (Punjab)
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Corruption Issues in Colombia
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Corruption Issues in Colombia
Introduction
Corruption is of the primary social ills facing many countries globally. It is a core concern gaining attention in many countries. The understanding of corruption is diverse and equally diverse. It presents itself in many forms, including abuse of public offices for personal benefits, abuse of power. Corruption is considered one of the main governance problems in current times. Corruption is usually defined as the abuse of power for private gain. Still, it is important to note that power can refer to public and private actors and positions. There are many definitions and behaviors included under the general term and no actual consensus on its precise meaning (Heywood, 2015).
Corruption comes with far-reaching implications, including loss of trust, weakening democracy, hampered economic growth and development, worsening inequalities and inequities, increasing poverty levels, widening social divisions, and increasing environmental challenges. Fighting corruption is not an easy task for individuals, institutions, and governments. Columbia is one of the countries grappling with corruption that has continued to threaten its economic and socio-economic growth and development. Corruption in Columbia is deeply entrenched in its culture, socio-economic, and political system.  The current Columbia government is trying to comprehend the repercussions of high corruption and is taking major measures to counteract the problem. Unfortunately, corruption has already been engraved and normalized within most systems, and principles and values that could inspire honesty and transparency are severely absent amongst the majority of the populace.
Background of Corruption in Columbia
Colombia is a presidential democratic republic. It gained independence from Spain in 1819.it has existed as a privileged two-party system, marked with relative economic stability was reached. However, the justice system has undergone a lot of infringement and violations. The Columbian society is marked by glaring inequalities, where few people hold majority wealth. There have been no effective reforms that could have addressed such wealth disparities. As a result, there have been conflicts and contestations among opposing groups. The contestations led to a prolonged revolutionary armed struggle in South America, where the Left-wing guerrillas have operated now for over more than six decades in Colombia. In the 1970s, they were counteracted by security forces and paramilitary groups funded by landlords and other economic interests, and this war deepened the rise of the drug cartels between the 1970s and the end of the 1990s. This conflict, marked by the emergence of cartels and specific interest groups, created more opportunities for corruption and other inhuman acts like killings. All these happening were enabled by a weak justice system that cartels could easily corrupt.
Corruption is a critical challenge in Columbia. It is a problem that permeates diverse components of the Colombian economy. The high presence of corruptive practices in the public and...