Introduction

Normative definition provides the starting-point from which to consider two major forms of corruption: corruption in relation to democratic theory and historic practice (‘power corruption’) and in relation to democratic practice in the age of capitalism (‘political-economy corruption’). The implications of normative definition point, first, to the modern distinction between ‘public’ and ‘private’, which is basic to legal-rational politics and administration; and second, to the debate over restricted (legalistic) definition or broad (social) definition of corruption.