Power Corrupts

Power Corrupts. Absolute power corrupt absolutely. (Lord Acton) Do you Agree? What might we do to check the corruption of power

BIBLOGRAPHIC EXERCISE: ESSAY PLAN.
Topic: “Power corrupts. Absolute Power corrupt absolutely.” (Lord Acton) Do you agree? What might we do to check the corruption of power?
Introduction
Power corruption is widespread phenomenon in private and public life. It is natural that power can be abused by those entrusted to exercise it, if there are no proper mechanisms of checks and balances put in place to correct and prevent misuse of power.
First part of this essay will highlight issues of power corruption in public institutions whereby people mandated by citizen to exercise power on their behalf always violate that trust as soon as they gain powers. They mostly serve their interest. The second part of the essay is going to discuss measures to keep the power holders under checks and balances.

First Part.

• Power as a capacity to exercise influence over the actions of others and corruption as the use of that power for possessors own narrow ends against the purposes for which the power is intended.
• The concentration of power in one man or single institutions is prone to lead to errors. Attempts to correct the mistakes are always met with resistance by power holders and always leave room for power corruption.
• There is always widespread belief and evidence that power corrupts and people in positions of power can have a substantial negative impact on the common good by acting on their own self-interest.
• Powerful people always act at will without fear of negative consequences.

Second Part

• Powers that need to be delegated should not be given to a single person or to single institutions, thereby forming a system of a checks and balances by means of separation of powers.
• Strengthening state institutions by improving law enforcement mechanism and monitoring systems.
• Providing for transparency and accountability.
• Empowerment of civil society and mass media to galvanize community participation and action.
• Promote freedom of information and provide access to public information.

Conclusion

While corruption of power has continued to ravage in our everyday life, there is general belief that if proper mechanism of checks and balances are put in place by holding people who misuse power for their benefits responsible and accountable for their actions, the result would curb power corruption significantly.