Dave Benjamin's poster on political corruption and how it relates to crimes against humanity

Benjamin, Dave O.

Wurschke, Manja

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Political Corruption as a Crime Against Humanity

Corruption Defined Political Corruption as a  Crime Against Humanity Dave O. Benjamin & Manja Wurschke College of Public and International Affairs University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT ‘the abuse of public office  for private gain’   (World Bank 1997 Helping Countries Combat Corruption: The Role of the World Bank (Washington, DC) p. 8).              Corruption Perceptions Index 2013 Macro Consequences • Violation of the right of national self-determination • Violation of sovereignty of the people • Violations of rights of free speech, assembly, association (including religious expression) • Systematic and systemic abuses of public office for private and personal gain deprive succeeding generations the right to exist without fear  Features of Political Corruption • Conversion of public goods into private benefits • Exchanged on the basis of grace and favor • Grace and favor institutionally replaces meritocracy • Absolute power by head of state/government        Most corrupt head of state based on what he stole (Judicial Watch)    • Decline in resources available for capital investment and recurrent expenditure • Decline in services available to the people • Withdrawal of private investment • Conflict  • State collapse and failure  Micro Consequences Crimes Against Humanity  ‘acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack’ including: a) Murder;  b) Extermination;  c) Enslavement;  d) Deportation or forcible transfer of population;  e) Imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law;  f) Torture;  g) Rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity;  h) Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender as defined in paragraph 3, or other grounds that are universally recognized as impermissible under international law, in connection with any act referred to in this paragraph or any crime within the jurisdiction of the Court;  i) Enforced disappearance of persons;  j) The crime of apartheid;  k) Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health.    Conclusion Corruption by itself is not a crime against humanity, but the myriad crimes that occur as a consequence of political corruption imply that: a)  Political Corruption is the root condition b)  Political Corruption needs to be treated as such c)  Political Corruption needs to be prosecuted  d)  If political corruption is not prosecuted as a crime against humanity and accountability is not ensured, much of the Global South will become more vulnerable to state collapse and failure • Political beatings and disappearances, summary executions, violations of human rights especially by police and armed forces • Education, employment, etc dependent on political access and loyalties • Denials as punishment • Arbitrariness in employment and dismissal Consequences http://www.dangerouscreation.com/2009/11/should-being-rich-be-a-crime-against-humanity/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/900000/images/_903324_leopardallover300.jpg http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/news/intrnational/2012/09/21/4482.html 

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Political Corruption as a Crime Against Humanity

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