Conceptualising corruption and its legal control

Corruption or graft which is ubiquitous is a problem that affects many nations around the world. It is a quandary of both developed and developing nations that could bring about economic, social-cultural and political implications. Most countries, including Malaysia is currently outlining initiatives in stamping out corruption in the country. Drawn from an ongoing research, this paper aims to highlight an overview of the literature on the different conceptions on corruption and its effect on nations and societies. The Communicative Action Theory which would justify the act of corruption will also be explored. Additionally, the creation and the implementation of acceptable and effective anti-corruption measures is analysed through the Integrative Social Contract Theory. The paper contends that in the current challenging world, defining the concept of corruption and understanding its causes is problematic due to the variety of definitions from various actors and the numerous actors that could be involved in the illegal practices within the society. Also, the measurement of corruption that is not based on the magnitude of the actual level of corruption is also problematic. The predicament is further complicated by the variety of contexts in which corruption could occur and also the broader economic and political and socio-cultural interplay and implications.