Gender Dimension of Political Corruption as a Heavy Burden on the Path of Democracy
Abstract
Corruption continues to be one of the most important challenges in both developed and developing countries due to its negative impact on economic and development outcomes. Corruption hinders development and weakens modern societies. Corruption undermines public confidence in state institutions. Corruption especially hinders the progress of transition countries in state building. The resources obtained through corrupt practices are often transformed into economic and social influences that weaken democratic institutions and contribute to even wider spread of corruption.
Until the beginning of the 2000s, corruption was usually considered as a "gender-free phenomenon", so questions about the impact of corruption on gender were not asked. Recently, however, studies have emerged that attempt to examine and identify existing links between corruption and gender.
What is the relationship between women's political participation and corruption? In recent decades, an interesting reality has emerged that indicates a strong correlation between high levels of women's political participation and low levels of corruption. Statistical data from various countries around the world show that high levels of women's representation in political leadership positions are associated with low levels of both types of corruption.
This paper examines how corruption and women's political representation are connected. The purpose of this article is to answer the following questions: How do women influence the reduction of corruption at different levels of government and how does corruption hinder women's political participation?
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