Corruption And Stable Economies

Corruption And Stable Economies
Political turbulence is taking charge in Pakistan and will stay at least till the coming general elections, which are due to held after the mid of next year. Political leaders are vacillating by adopting approaches, which confuse the public to adopt any particular way or principle.

In one’s opinion, this current political cauldron and opprobrium is preposterous and is not seminal in nature. It soon will turn into imbroglio that will ultimately lead to assailable political circumstances. Because this current wave is meretricious and soon public will find it preposterous and hence a turn towards real values that bring peace and prosperity.

This jingoism will produce nothing but lead into inertia and bellicose. Politics is the field that is run by means, which in turn are produced by tangible efforts and hard work.

Politics of hatred and misstatements does produce momentary popular rhetoric but ultimately those are practical steps or efforts that matter and can only produce tangible results that change the lives of countrymen.

The basic question for the leaders of political parties is which leader or party has the capability to bring Pakistan on the track of stable and strong economic path. That in my view in the current circumstances is the most important question for political parties and public.

The public has to decide which political party has the capability to better run the economy and hence control the inflation and give rise to increase in the income and buying capacity of its people. Or if a leader promises to curb the social evils like corruption, does that leader have the capability to get the required result.

First we will see or examine that in our neighbours or region the economies that have grown, how have achieved economic wellbeing. If we look into East Asia, the major economies have first make themselves economically stable and with that worked to reduce or finish the social evils like corruption and injustice.

Primarily we have to learn that unrealistic goals or slogans do not yield anything better but result into more instability. Every concerned person in our country agrees that corruption is a big menace and have a heart to change the situation but the question is what is the best mechanism to get it done. Solution or mechanism can be learnt from societies that have successfully fought these social evils.

Societies or countries in our near or far neighbours have achieved these goals like China, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia but if you study their journey it was made possible with strong and stable economies, which give rise to strong institutions and that helped in reducing these social evils.

Political parties, which are looking into curbing corruption, should first devise a way to strong and prosperous Pakistan. Mere intention or inaction will result into more chaos and weaken the people resolve to fight social evils.

In East Asia if we look into Japan it has shown aplomb, which no other nation has shown at least in Asia where many nations were more into sordid and despicable courses. It is one of the less corrupt nations not only in Asia but also on earth. Its journey into modern times show that its transformation into industrial and economic welfare state had turned the tide and make it a leading economic and cultural power with moral awareness of highest degrees. Singapore is also one such example where Lee Kuan Yew made it an economic power and corruption was reduced and dealt under his strong leadership.

Recently China has shown some improvements in its control of corruption though I believe these goals are achieved when economic benefits reach to every or most citizens of the country. And with that we have examples of western countries with us who shown resilience to corruption with their strong economies.

Though it is difficult to create scientific connection between corruption and bad economies but it is observed that countries with good economic conditions are less affected with corruption. There are numerous reports that indicate crimes have direct linkage to weak economies. Though there are arguments that strong economies first grapple with social evils like corruption and that leads to better economic conditions.

But practical implications reveal that strong economies have shown fewer tendencies to remain corrupt or indulge in corruption. In Asia societies that have good economic conditions have very low rate of corruption like Middle Eastern countries with strong economies i-e Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and other countries which are oil rich have good law and order situation and few traces of corruption.

In the same region countries with weak economies have bad records of corruption like Iraq, Syria, Jordan and other countries of the Middle East which economies have stark similarities. Though actions on behalf of governments have their own importance my only understanding or suggestion is that strong economies have more opportunities to deal with such menaces in the strongest possible ways. Though this is not absolute but reading of the economies show a very strong connection between corruption and economies. The believe that to progress social evils must first be dealt is fairly good idea but in recent history the logic of economic well being as precursor of good social behaviours has strong practical examples with it.

Governments who are driven by the idea of reducing corruption if unable to achieve their goals will result into instability and society will lose its incentive to control their social menaces at social standards which they previously held as that will seem impossible to achieve far away.

Political parties must first work to strengthen the economic condition of the country and with that start taking action against corruption and injustices and should work on policies that have durable and efficient results.

With all this education can also play a vital role in educating people how corruption and corrupt practices work and it erodes the functions of the society and make it lawless society. Even the primitive Islamic society, achieved the goals of social justice with strong economy and flow of wealth from newly added areas and vicinities.

Justice and economic welfare go hand in hand, strengthening of economy will strengthen the social justice system and tools to curb corruption. Because in practical terms survival is the first and primary test of any philosophical and religious system if it works in better terms of survival it is good path to follow, as basic needs take primacy for many and there are few exceptions.

The writer is a Barrister at Law from Lincoln's Inn, and specializes in constitutional & corporate law. He may be reached at hamayunsarfraz@gmail.com