Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 93 CORRUPTION SOCIOLOGY ‘ Mohammad Roesli Faculty of Law Universitas Merdeka,Surabaya, Indonesia, Email: roesli.unmer@gmail.com Abstract: Corruption shows a serious challenge to development. In the world of politics, corruption complicates democracy and good governance by destroying the formal process. Corruption in elections and in the legislature reduces accountability and representation in policy making; corruption in the court system stops law order; and corruption in public government results in an imbalance in community service. In general, corruption erodes the institutional capacity of the government, due to the neglect of procedures, suctioning of resources, and officials appointed or elevated positions not because of achievement. At the same time, corruption complicates the legitimacy of government and democratic values such as trust and tolerance. It takes the existence of local wisdom and religious values to minimize corruption. Keyword : corruption, sociology, universal social problems Submission : Feb, 08th 2020 Revision : April 07th 2020 Publication : May 30th 2020 INTRODUCTION Anyone who tries to conduct a sociological analysis of corruption, will inevitably be confronted with a methodological problem(Heidenheimer, 1978). Recognized and commonly applied methods of social research such as interviews, questionnaires and statistical analysis cannot be applied here as long as corruption is seen as a dishonest transaction. What most sociologists can do is observe the phenomenon and its effects and gather as much confidential information as possible. Even disclosure of corruption in general, as can lead to the collapse of a regime, does not reveal as much as it should(Joseph et al., 2016). Sociologists who study the phenomenon of corruption must really know history, culture, language, and things from at least one complex and rich example that enables it to develop data and test its hypotheses. Without this background knowledge, it is almost impossible to propose useful insights beyond what is already known to the public. Likewise, without a continual observation of the phenomenon, it is almost impossible to examine the validity of certain generalizations about the meaning and function of corruption(Sater, 2009; mailto:roesli.unmer@gmail.com Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 94 Sivakumar, 2014; Villaroman (3rd Edition) (February 15, 2010). N. Villaroman, LAWS AND JURISPRUDENCE ON GRAFT AND CORRUPTION, 3RD EDITION, , 2010. Available at SSRN:, 2001). LITERATURE REVIEW Definition of Corruption According to KBBI (Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia) Corruption is the misappropriation or misuse of state money (companies, etc.) for personal or other people's benefit(Kebudayaan, 2016). Definition of Corruption According to Experts Syed Hussein Alatas, "The core of corruption is the abuse of trust for personal gain". Syed Hussein Atalas said that there are three phenomena covered by the term corruption, namely Bribery, Extortion and nepotism(Khondker, 2006). These three things are not the same but there is a common thread that connects the three types, namely the placement of public interests under personal goals with violations of norms of duty and prosperity, which are accompanied by confidentiality, betrayal, deception and cruel neglect of each consequence suffered by the public. 1. Robert C. Brooks, the formulation of corruption proposed by Brooks is "Deliberately making a mistake or neglecting a task known as an obligation, or without the right to use power with the aim of gaining a more or less personal advantage"(Brooks, 1909). 2. Transparency International, "Corruption is embracing the behavior of officials in the public sector, whether politicians or public servants, where they improperly and unlawfully enrich themselves or other parties close to them, by abusing the publi c authority entrusted to them"(Transparency International, 2010a, 2010b, 2013). Understanding the sociological, basically corruption is formed by the behavior of crimes relating to the administration of public services and work relationships that bring financial resources. Corruption occurs through weaknesses in the bureaucratic system of public administration and weaknesses of the control system in work relationships that bring financial resources by utilizing certain situations of the country's growth cycle, the development of social systems and the harmony of government structures. The Meaning of Corruption Between previous and present studies on corruption in Asia, no continuous development of theory and analysis was found. Moreover, the sociology of corruption in general has received relatively little attention from social science experts. Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 95 In some instances, many works on corruption do not try to do conceptual or causal analysis. Nor did they try to clarify the types and degree of corruption. Before we proceed further, we must explain the term corruption. "According to the general use of the term 'corruption' officials, we call it corrupt if a public servant receives a gift offered by a private party with the intention of influencing to pay special attention to the interests of the giver(Ehrlich & Francis, 1999; Isaksson & Kotsadam, 2018; Pellegrini & Gerlagh, 2004; Persson et al., 2010). Sometimes the act of offering such a gift or another tempting gift is also included in the concept. Extortion, ie requests for gifts or gifts in the performance of public duties, can also be seen as 'corruption'. In fact, the term backward also applies to officials who use the public funds that they manage for their own benefit; in other words, those who are guilty of embezzlement above the price paid by the public ". Another phenomenon that can be seen as corruption is the appointment of relatives, friends or political associates in public positions regardless of their services or consequences for public welfare. We call this nepotism(Jaskiewicz et al., 2013; Robertson-Snape, 1999; Wenneras & Wold, 1997). Characteristics of corruption Syed Hussein Alatas in his book "Corruption Sociology (an exploration with contemporary data)", wrote down the characteristics of corruption as follows(Khondker, 2006): 1. Corruption always involves more than one person; 2. Corruption generally involves secrecy, except where it is so rampant and deeply ingrained that ruling individuals or those in their cover are not tempted to hide their actions. But even so, the motive for corruption is kept confidential; 3. Corruption involves elements of mutual obligations and benefits. Obligations or benefits are not always in the form of money; 4. Those who practice methods of corruption usually try to cover up their actions by taking cover behind legal justification; 5. Those involved in corruption are those who want decisive decisions and those who are able to influence those decisions; 6. Every act of corruption contains fraud, usually with a public body or the general public; 7. Every form of corruption is a betrayal of trust; 8. Every form of corruption involves a contradictory dual function of those who carry out the act; 9. An act of corruption violates the norms of duty and responsibility in the public order. Based on intentional intentions to place the public interest under special interests. Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 96 The role and effects of corruption in the underdeveloped countries of Asia and Africa Depictions of corruption are not intended to provide an assessment. Terms such as "betrayal", "fraud" and "lawlessness" are used as neutral notions, without punishing whether such acts are good or bad for the community concerned. It is generally acknowledged that corruption is an age-old problem of all human societies, except for very primitive to varying degrees, which is infected by corruption. It has been rightly stated that the survival and development of a political, social, cultural or economic order does not need to be wasted or impeded by mere outbreaks of corruption. Some observers go further and acknowledge that in some instances corruption has helped to improve economic development and efficiency. Now in developing countries, bureaucratic corruption is also seen as rampant, or as close as it takes place (as) in the form of traditional gifts to those who hold positions or hold certain powers. In some regions, delays in administrative adjustments and the perpetuation of old (previous) views have exacerbated the problem of corruption. The patrimonial bureaucratic substructure still influences other parts of society, while traditional family ties continue to clash with modern concepts of morality on public matters. Even in 1957 in several government offices in West Sumatra, it was observed that there was one particular office where all the employees were members of the same family group; namely the head office's family. And while traditional gift giving can be distinguished from bribes of money, it is very clear that from the perspective of the giver someone has taken refuge in someone else, so even though the practice has a new meaning. Corruption Function Theoretically (Syed Hussein Alatas formulation), "Not all acts that benefit officials above the price of the people's losses are corrupt, if not necessarily the term will include all tax collection by an absolute monarchy to provide the luxury that is used in the royal family. , all the costs and payments paid by peasant slaves to their landlords, all the sacrifices and gifts shown to the priestly class in theocracy. Actions that are indeed illegal and benefit officials are clearly corrupt. But neither the question of formal legality nor the question of the patience of the masses is an essential question of the concept. Where time is the best morality of opinion and politics, which assesses the intent and framework of the act, views an act as a public sacrifice for its personal gain, it must be viewed as corrupt ”. Syed Hussein Alatas cites conclusions about the meaning of corruption, "the losses caused by corruption far exceed the amount of individual profit that comes from it, because bribes Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 97 actually damage the entire economic system. Important decisions are made with ulterior motives and anti-social regardless of the consequences on society ". Broadly speaking, we can distinguish corruption into the following three stages: 1. The stage in which corruption is relatively limited, without affecting the broad areas of social life. 2. The second stage is the stage where corruption has run rampant and penetrates all life. 3. The third stage of corruption is when corruption destroys itself which destroys community buildings(Aidt, 2009; Fisman & Miguel, 2007; Mo, 2001; Wei, 2000; You & Khagram, 2005). It was also stated that corruption could act as a fence against bad wisdom. Even if the government of a developing country actively and cleverly promotes growth, there is no guarantee that to achieve its objectives its policies will be well understood. As a result, he could take a strong step in the wrong direction. Corruption can reduce losses from such mistakes, because while the government is carrying out a policy, entrepreneurs with their sabotage carry out other policies. Like all insurance, it costs money if government policy is correct. Many countries in Asia and Africa have experiences in concocting corruption, inefficiency, and poor planning. As far as national development is concerned, improvements occur among all these slumps(Morse & Morse, 2019). Suggesting obtaining or stimulating corruption will impede development. But the inevitable corruption may be in the context of certain actions. The need to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and a large number of similar regulations noted by Weiner, does not imply a positive function of corruption. It must be seen as an extension of corruption because to a certain extent, corruption helps to increase rules and massive delays, and lighthouse projects that will benefit the winners of corrupt powers. We must also remember that an administration's inability to apply efficiently, the number of regulations increased, partly due to corruption. While administrative slowness in the reverse implementation also contributes to the corruption mentioned in the examples of Weiner and others. In many developing countries, we can pay attention to the simultaneous occurrence of three trends, namely the expansion of civil service, improved governance, and the decline in reserve income. All three at a certain level can be determined by the need to carry out development projects. However, it was already in the initial stages even before the projects were declared and approved, corruption had spread in a form that affected income, with or not multiplied rules. From whatever angle we see it, it does not contribute positively to development, because some government funds are constantly being drained for negative purposes. In the last description, the function of corruption can be compared to an illness; Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 98 (which) if controlled properly (will have an impact) is less dangerous, if not precisely (will) turn off. Causes of Corruption Corruption occurs due to the following factors: 1. Absence or weakness of leadership in key positions capable of inspiring and influencing behavior that tames corruption; 2. Weaknesses in religious and ethical teachings; 3. Colonialism; 4. Lack of education; 5. Poverty; 6. Lack of legal action; 7. Scarcity of a fertile environment for anti-corruption behavior; 8. Government structure; 9. Radical change; 10. State of society(Tanzi, 1998; Treisman, 2000). An expression of forms of corruption shows that corruption, like parasitic plants, will spread to meet every suitable environment that provides for its needs, and the most obvious gift- giving habit is among the enabling environments. Gift giving is a major indirect cause of the growth of corruption in developing regions. Gift giving is a common practice, that there is no meaningful causal relationship between gift giving and (with) corruption. It appears that gift giving was part of the colonial administration, but the phenomenon had a sharp difference from corruption: 1. It does not have to be confidential; 2. It is not a violation of duties or public rights; 3. It is a form of revenue where the government benefits; 4. It is not embezzlement of government funds or public blackmail. It is not difficult to imagine how corruption is pervasive, but we must examine the meaning of gift giving as a source of arbitrariness in the causal network of corruption given the fact that many other practices agreed upon by the community have been plagued by corruption. In a society dominated by a corrupt regime, every traditional institution that can be misused will undoubtedly be invaded by corruption, especially by the type of extortion. The most important factor in the dynamics of corruption is the moral and intellectual circumstances of community leaders. The moral and intellectual circumstances of the leaders become decisive and important in the configuration of other conditions. Here, what Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 99 is important for us is to determine the pattern of relationships between the various factors that constitute corruption, and get the position and function of leadership into that pattern. Given the government's influence on the spread of corruption, the following factors clearly help: 1. When the government allows large contract contacts containing conditions that can benefit the contractors; 2. When the government collects very large taxes and therefore offers the temptation of bribes in return for tax deductions; 3. When it sets tariffs for certain industries such as railroad, electricity and gas, as well as a large number of commodity prices, this encourages dominant companies to try to control tariffs and prices; 4. When the government uses power to choose who can enter an industry; 5. When he provides loans or tax exemptions for factories or equipment for a short period; 6. When he has the power to allocate raw materials; 7. When government subsidies are paid, both openly and quietly. Corruption Prevention We can note the following conditions which tame corruption, even though we cannot eradicate them: 1. A positive attachment to governance and spiritual involvement in the task of national and bureaucratic progress; 2. Efficient administration and (more) appropriate structural adjustments of government machinery and rules so as to avoid creating sources of corruption; 3. Favorable historical and sociological conditions; 4. The functioning of an anti-corruption value system; 5. Influential group leadership with high moral and intellectual standards; 6. An educated public with sufficient intelligence to assess and follow the behavior of events. CONCLUSION The vanguard of the opponents of corruption are people imbued with idealism, courage, deep hatred of injustice, a critical attitude to the existing order, optimism in success, and confidence in the ability of reasoning and justice. Changes in historical and sociological contexts that minimize corruption can be translated into a living force only if there are effective and influential individuals to act as catalyst agents. Because of the lag of such groups, corruption will clearly flourish. How to guarantee a steady supply of these individuals for society and to provide facilities for their emergence in vital positions is always a vital Journal of Social Political Sciences JSPS Vol. 1, No. 2, May, 2020 ISSN: 2715-7539 (Online) 100 problem. Sociological and political studies of leadership, although bearing fruit in other aspects are not enough to investigate the area of corruption within the ruling groups. 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