THE TOPOGRAPHY OF CORRUPTION - EXPLORATIONS IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

The article analyses how corruption is linked to scandalization in the traditions of European countries and how this has helped shape contem porary perceptions. Britain and Italy are contrasted in how they maint ained or transmuted patron-client relationships and monitored distinct ions between social, economic and political exchange. The comparative analysis is extended to encompass regional variations within Italy, as manifested by differing levels of trust and tolerance of deviations f rom public office obligations. Different patterns of monitoring bureau cratic behaviour help explain why low-level corruption is less prevale nt in France than in Italy, but also why problem consciousness has dev eloped more among Italians. The topographic scope of the survey is the n extended beyond national borders with reference to whether and how E uropean governments responded to international pressures to monitor th e bribery of officials abroad. Supplementary indicators of national te ndencies to combat corruption are extrapolated from data about the wil lingness of national elites to control practices by representatives of their companies in developing countries.