Corruption has for a long time been notoriously hard to define. What it is perceived to be is not necessarily what it is. It is congruous and sometimes fuses with notions such as extortion and redistribution of wealth or even welfare benefits. Can it be eradicated? Should it be embraced as an acceptable way of running political systems and institutions? These questions raise the intricate issue of the tenuous line which separates the political sphere from the economic or the public spheres.

The contributions gathered in this opus by Mendilow and Peleg take us on a journey to the heart of the matter: from Burke's ideas to the reality on the ground, from ancient Greece to modern Italy, Austria, or China. We shall take a close look at the solemn workings of the U.S. Supreme Court as well as the successive waves of the Arab Spring which were backed by angry mobs. Very promising explorations indeed! -- Eric Phelippeau, University Paris Ouest - Nanterre la Defense Corruption is liable to become an emotionally charged indicator of academic and public discourse in future global discussions, and this book promotes the issue of corruption to the very forefront of the global public debate. This book explores understanding the phenomenon of corruption, which could lead to constructive and successful actions being taken to combat, prevent, and understand corruption through the different cases of countries analyzed. This book should be a must read for all the public officials, business environments, academic representatives, students, NGOs, and all who want to dive into deep analyses and understanding of corruption phenomenon. -- Olga Guzhva, V.N. Karazin Kharkov National University